The biggest challenge that confronts cities today is the
intractable problem of automobile dependence. As the automobile
dependence continues to grow, it is adversely affecting the
quality of urban life. Congestion, unsafe roads and pollution
remain their bane. Unless accompanied by policies to restrict
the growth in car and motorised two-wheeler travel, cities will
run hard only to stand still. Despite a very small minority
using cars in cities, the available road space and transport-
related investments are getting locked up only to cater to them.
Public transport, bicycles and pedestrian facilities used by the
vast urban majority, especially the urban poor, remain
neglected. The poor end up paying an enormous cost for their
travel, while car users do not even pay the full cost of car
travel. Indian cities, in fact, penalise public transport with
higher taxes compared to personal vehicles. At its root lies the
failure of public transport in cities. Only about eight of the
35 Indian cities, which have a popul