Centre frames infra policy to check challenges of urbanisation

The Centre has formulated a policy to promote living close to mass public transport corridors like metro, monorail and bus rapid transit (BRT), a move aimed at addressing the challenges of urbanisation.

The National Transit Oriented Development Policy seeks to promote Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) – a type of infrastructure development which enables people to live within walking or cycling distance from transit corridors which are being undertaken in India at a large scale.

The policy will be discussed with the states and Union territories (UTs) at a national workshop on urban development on Tuesday, an official release said.

TOD is considered a viable solution to urban challenges like haphazard growth, mobility problems, congestion due to rising private vehicles on roads and pollution, among others.

The Ministry of Urban Development is also incentivising the TOD under new Metro Policy and Green Urban Mobility Scheme that seeks to create non-motorised transport infrastructure in cities like footpaths and cycle-tracks.

The Ministry's initiative comes in the context of over 300 km of Metro lines being operational in seven cities, while another 600 km of Metro line projects being under construction in 12 cities and over 500 km projects under consideration.

BRTS projects in 12 cities are under different stages of construction and eight more cities are set to take up BRT projects. Mass Rail Transit System of 380 km length is being taken up in Delhi, the statement said.

TOD policy is being taken up in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Naya Raipur, Nagpur and Navi Mumbai.