NITI Aayog: India to have one-nation-one-card for public transport
To ensure seamless connectivity between various modes of transport, India will soon have a one-nation-one-card policy for public transport, according to NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.
NITI Aayog, in its report, ‘India leaps ahead: transformative mobility solutions for all’, had projected that by 2030, India can cut road-based passenger transport energy demand by 64 percent and cut carbon emissions by 37%.
The focus of the nation's mobility strategy was on sustainable mobility, transport-oriented planning and digitisation, according to Kant, and the objective is to “plan for the citizens first, rather than the vehicles by providing accessible sustainable mobility by switching to cleaner modes of transportation.”
Kant added: "The citizens should work towards sharing a ride, not private ownership. The government has brought together various stakeholders to drive India's mobility vision." The worsening air quality in major cities, rising concerns of climate change and a high oil import bill are current challenges facing the government. By tackling the mobility issue, India can unlock the potential of its economy and people, according to him.
The road transportation segment contributes around 4% of India's GDP. NITI Aayog Advisor Anil Srivastava also mentioned that the government is working towards achieving a robust mobility ecosystem across India.
As part of its electric mobility plan, the Centre is targeting converting 30% of the country’s vehicles to electric by 2030. Earlier this year, PTI reported that NITI Aayog submitted a draft Cabinet note on how to address zero emission vehicles, ancillary technology, component manufacturers, etc. However, the industry is waiting for a clear roadmap.
