National Urban Transport Policy emphasises on ‘moving people’ instead of ‘moving vehicles’. Discuss critically the success of the various strategies of the Government in this regard.

Context

The National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP), 2006, made a paradigm shift by prioritising the movement of people over vehicles — favouring public transport, non-motorised transport and integrated land-use planning over private-car-centric road building.

Strategies and their success

• Mass transit: Metro rail has expanded to many cities, and BRTS was tried in Ahmedabad (Janmarg) and Indore; city bus fleets grew under JnNURM.
• Institutional reform: Unified Metropolitan Transport Authorities (UMTAs) and dedicated Urban Transport Funds were envisaged.
• Non-motorised transport: Cycle tracks, footpaths and pedestrianisation in select cities.
• Cleaner mobility: Push for CNG, electric buses (FAME) and public bike-sharing.

Critical assessment

• Success is uneven — metros are capital-intensive and sometimes under-utilised; BRTS largely faltered.
• UMTAs remain weak or absent, causing fragmented planning.
• Private-vehicle numbers keep rising; last-mile connectivity, walkability and bus services are neglected.
• Funding and land-use integration remain inadequate.

Way forward

Strengthen UMTAs, prioritise affordable bus systems and NMT, integrate transport with land use (TOD), adopt congestion pricing and expand electric public transport.

Conclusion

The policy's vision is sound, but implementation lags. Real success needs institutional strength, sustained funding and a genuine shift from car-centric to people-centric cities.