Post by CEPT University

In a recent episode of The Hindu's In Focus podcast, Prof. Shalini Sinha, Dean at the Faculty of Planning CEPT University and Center Head at the Center of Excellence in Urban Transport, CRDF (CoE-UT), discusses a critical issue in urban mobility in India - the gap between the metro rail expansion and real impact on city transport systems. India’s metro rail network  - now operational across 26 cities, has grown nearly fourfold in just over a decade. Yet, Prof. Sinha emphasises this is only the beginning - calling for a shift toward an integrated mobility system where public transport becomes a preferred choice for all and not just a fall-back for those without private vehicles. Key highlights from the discussion include: - People-Centric Planning: Focusing on last-mile connectivity, walkable streets, safe pedestrian crossings, and integrated public transport systems. - Policy-Driven Solutions: Strategies should implement a combination of push and pull measures, such as environmental charges and road tax revisions. Ultimately, fare policy should prioritize maximizing metro ridership over mere revenue recovery. - Institutional Coordination: By fostering integrated decision-making, we can replace fragmented, piecemeal interventions with a larger, well-connected multimodal system. - Beyond Engineering: Expand our approach to encompass local area planning, bus service coordination, and thoughtful public realm design. Listen to the full episode to learn how these systemic shifts can reshape our cities - https://lnkd.in/gk-X588r The Hindu | CEPT Research and Development Foundation #CEPTFacultyVoices #PublicTransport #MetroRailIndia #UrbanTransportPlanning #UrbanMobility #Accessibility #IntegratedMobilitySystems #InfrastructureIndia #SmartCitiesIndia #MassTransit #CEPTUniversity #Ahmedabad