GS1 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Urban Mass Transport | Geography for UPSC CSE PDF Download

How is efficient and affordable urban mass transport key to the rapid economic development of India? (UPSC GS1 Mains)

Introduction 
Creating an efficient transport infrastructure in the country is one of the chief factors responsible for the takeoff of accelerated growth in the country on account of poor quality of transport infrastructure. Progress made in efficient and affordable urban mass transport would have a key role on taking India to double digit growth. 

• Need of efficient and affordable urban mass transport: Nearly 31% of India’s current population lives in urban areas contributing to 63% of India’s GDP (Census 2011) and with increasing urbanization, urban areas are expected to house 40% of India’s population and contribute to 75% of India’s GDP by 2030. 
• India’s urban growth is largely concentrated in large cities which were 35 in 2001 to 53 in 2011, accounting for 43% of India’s urban population, and is expected to be 87 by 2030. 

Efficient and affordable urban mass transport key to the rapid economic development of India because: 

• Efficient urban mass transport system lead to saving of time and energy. This time and energy can be used for economic activities. Best example is Delhi Metro services. Not only has this affordability of transport and safety of citizens improved a lot. 
• India has vast coastline and waterways which are still unexplored. With issues like environment and climate change, our waterways will provide efficient as well affordable transport system. Further this will provide connectivity to remote areas also; best example is waterways through Brahmaputra River which provides accessibility to northeast region. 
• Mass transport system can be further more affordable with reinvent of new technologies. e. g. - Use of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) CNG and use nuclear energy will make this more affordable. Also this will reduce our import of fossil fuels. This will be more economically more viable as well as environment friendly. 
• Mass transport provides complimentary system- It is absolutely clear that there isn’t enough space for everyone to drive a car, and the government must pivot the policy to delivering reliable public transport. The metro project is a step in the right direction, but it needs complementary changes that improve the citizens’ experience. 
• Public mass system must provide last mile connectivity-the metro system needs a bus system to provide last-mile connectivity. If people have to take buses, they need pedestrian paths to walk on the roads. The bus system also needs to be reliable Mysore has managed to achieve that because of a centralized monitoring system that tracks buses using GPS monitors driving speed and ensures that they stop at every bus stop. 

Conclusion 
India is a growing economy, and census data suggests that only 31% of the population lives in urban centers. Another 300 million people will be added by 2050 and the planning for carrying those people in our cities must begin now. Public transport can easily be the cheaper, faster and economical alternative if policymakers plan for tomorrow’s problems today. So initiatives like development of waterways, Bullet trains, hyper loops is the demand of time.

Topics Covered - Transport sector in India, Transportation and Communication