The Hindu Editorial Analysis
11 June 2025
Urbanisation and the challenge of ideal transit solutions
(Source – The Hindu, National Edition – Page No. – 08)
Topic: GS Paper 2: Urban Governance, Infrastructure, Development, GS Paper 3: Sustainable Development, Urban Mobility, Budgetary Planning, Environment
Context
With over 60% of India’s population projected to be urban by 2060, India faces an urgent need to invest in cost-effective, sustainable and inclusive urban transport systems. Despite heavy investment in metro rail and e-buses, only 37% of urban Indians have access to public transit, highlighting structural issues in planning and accessibility.
Key Issues Raised in the Editorial
1. Overinvestment in Metro Systems with Poor Returns
- Metro projects are capital-intensive and often fail to meet projected ridership, causing financial stress.
- The high cost of last-mile connectivity and fare sensitivity discourage usage.
- Many metros have failed to recover operational costs, raising concerns over long-term sustainability.
2. Underutilization of Bus Systems
- India needs 2,00,000 urban buses, but only 35,000 are operational.
- Budget allocations (PM e-Bus Seva Scheme, PM-E-Drive) aim to add 14,000+ new e-buses, but coverage remains limited.
3. Neglect of Cost-Efficient Modes like Trams & Trolleybuses
- Trams show a 45% profit in their life cycle vs e-buses’ 82% loss over 7 decades.
- Planners often overlook trams due to short-term viability bias, despite their lower long-term costs and climate compatibility.
4. Urban Transport Inequality
- Poor last-mile connectivity from metro stations restricts access for lower-income residents.
- Indian urban transport isn’t affordable or inclusive, making it socially and economically inefficient.
Policy Lessons and Suggestions
| Domain | Policy Gap | Suggested Reforms |
|---|---|---|
| Planning & Investment | Skewed focus on metros & e-buses | Invest in diverse public modes (trams, buses) |
| Affordability | High fares and last-mile costs | Offer targeted subsidies & improve bus feeder services |
| Sustainability | Overuse of non-renewable fuel tech | Prioritise CNG, hydrogen, electric & rail-based systems |
| Viability Assessment | No long-term profit analysis | Incorporate life-cycle cost and P&L analysis into planning |
Some Case-Based Insights
- Brazil & China: Over 50% of urban residents have access to transit (vs India’s 37%).
- Kolkata’s tram system revival and Kochi’s planned tram introduction show the feasibility of retrofitting legacy systems.
- The use of trolleybuses in Europe is another example of clean and cost-efficient urban mobility.
Ethical & Environmental Perspective (GS4 Linkage)
- Urban mobility is not just an infrastructure issue — it’s a matter of equity, environmental justice, and intergenerational sustainability.
- A rights-based approach to urban planning must include transport access for all, especially the poor and disabled.
Conclusion
India’s urban future must not be driven by prestige infrastructure but by functional, sustainable and inclusive mobility systems. Trams, trolleybuses, and bus rapid transit (BRT) systems offer a smarter and financially wiser alternative to carbon-heavy and underutilized metro lines.
Planning must now shift from symbolic visibility to functional viability.