National Urban Transport Policy to address transport bottlenecks in metros

New Delhi: According to the minister of state for urban development, Ajay Maken, though urban transport is a state subject, given the seriousness of rapidly growing problem, the government is providing central financial assistance for urban transport projects.

Addressing the Lok Sabha, the minister said that the government had approved National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) in April, 2006, and the policy provides guidelines to the states and cities to design their urban transport strategies. The government, for its part, is providing central financial assistance for urban transport projects through various schemes like Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), scheme of ministry of finance for financial support to public private partnership in infrastructure, and budgetary support.

Maken said that in addition to financial assistance, advisory letters have also been issued to all states and union territories for prioritising investment in public transportation, non-motorised mode of transport, running of city bus service on the public private partnership (PPP) model, integration of land use and transport planning, developing parking policy and using intelligent transport system for integration across various modes of transport and traffic management.