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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Overhaul of existing urban public transport frameworks needed in India: Study
To address issues of congestion, pollution, and loss of productivity experienced in urban India and especially in light of 40% of India projected to live in cities by 2030, a white paper released by the Indian arm of global consulting firm Kearney on Thursday called for an overhaul of the existing urban public transport frameworks in India through measures such as a dedicated central standards authority that will define infrastructure design, vehicle specifications, operational protocols, and safety standards, leveraging global benchmarks while customising for local context. India's urban transit challenge is not just about infrastructure but integration. (File photo) The study also advocated adoption of last-mile connectivity, multimodal integration, and conducive land-use planning following globally recognised models, such as Singapore's public transport combining metro and feeder buses with integrated ticketing and real-time tracking or Amsterdam offering more than 500 km of dedicated cycling lanes, supporting first—and last-mile travel. Further, the paper called for the development of compact, walkable communities around transit hubs to curb urban sprawl, boost public transport ridership, and promote sustainable urban development. 'India's urban transit challenge is not just about infrastructure but integration. Empowered metropolitan transport authorities are essential to break silos, streamline planning, and deliver seamless mobility across modes,' said Manish Mathur, partner at Kearney. The researchers identified three interconnected systematic barriers for sustainable and accessible transportation in Indian cities--- delays and cost overruns of marquee projects due to poor implementation, policy fragmentation leading to limited coordination, and the underutilization of alternative funding mechanisms such as land value capture. Also Read: After bike taxis, Bengaluru traffic cops target auto drivers for overcharging, improper documents: Report The whitepaper quoted a 2018 study by Boston Consulting Group and Uber, which found that congestion drains over $22 billion annually from four major cities-Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. They also noted that India is home to six of the world's nine most polluted cities. The researchers noted that while 23 Indian cities have metro rail networks in 2025, from just five in 2010, the total ridership of 10 million passengers comprises only 5.5% of the population of these 23 cities. Further, Delhi alone accounts for 77% of the national metro rail ridership. At the same time, bus systems have deteriorated despite a push for electrification, with only 72% of the fleet operational. Other than this, the paper acknowledged the importance of suburban train systems and the existence of alternative modes such as monorail and ropeways. While there is an array of mass-mobility solutions starting from buses, to trams, ropeways, and metro, the researchers called for cost-effective, sustainable options based on geography and demand, going by data-driven analysis of demographics, travel patterns, and growth forecasts. The authors also advocated for fostering a domestic ecosystem for manufacturing, skill development, and technology transfer will create self-reliance and fuel economic growth. 'Governments must act as enablers of this transformation by prioritizing people over cars, sustainability over short-term gains, and collaboration over isolation. Embracing this vision with urgency and purpose can pave the way for greener, more connected cities that promise a better tomorrow for all,' the paper concluded.
Hindustan Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
HC grants anticipatory bail to accused in NDPS Act case
: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has allowed anticipatory bail to an accused in connection with an offence under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances( NDPS) Act, 1985. With this, the high court rejected the preliminary objection raised by the state that such relief was barred under Section 438(6) of the CrPC as amended in Uttar Pradesh. The court held that with the repeal of the CrPC and the coming into force of BNSS 2023 (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita), the amended section 482 of the BNSS has superseded the stated amendment. Justice Manish Mathur passed this order recently on an application moved by Sudhir Kumar Chaurasia of Barabanki district seeking anticipatory bail under offence of the NDPS Act. The applicant had earlier been granted anticipatory bail under Sections 420, 467, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code. A second anticipatory bail application was filed after Section 22(c) of the NDPS Act, 1985 was added to the FIR. The prosecution objected, relying on section 438(6) of the CrPC as amended by U.P. Act No. 4 of 2019, which prohibits anticipatory bail in NDPS and certain other serious offences. The state counsel contended that the U.P. amendment continued to apply in light of the saving clause under Section 531(2)(b) of the BNSS and Section 6A of the general clauses Act, 1897. It was argued that the amendment should be considered a notification or order under a repealed law and was thus saved. The applicant's counsel submitted that the state amendment was a legislative enactment and not protected by section 531(2)(b), and that the field was now occupied exclusively by Section 482 of the BNSS. The court held that the U.P. amendment to Section 438 CrPC, which barred anticipatory bail for NDPS offences, does not survive the repeal of the CrPC and enactment of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The court rejected the state's argument that the U.P. amendment could be saved under section 531(2)(b) BNSS or section 6 of the general clauses Act. The court also referred to Article 254(2) of the Constitution, observing that although the U.P. amendment had received Presidential assent, the enactment of Section 482 BNSS, being a central legislation enacted later, would prevail in case of repugnancy. The court said, 'Even in terms of the proviso to Article 254(2) of the Constitution of India, there being a considerable difference in the provisions of anticipatory bail between Act No. 4 of 2019 and Section 482 BNSS 2023… it is the provisions of re-enacted Section 482 BNSS 2023, which shall prevail.' Accordingly, the court allowed the anticipatory bail application moved by the applicant. MANOJ KUMAR SINGH
