Under the National Action Plan for Climate Change, the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat has been launched to cover various aspects which include better urban planning and modal shift to public transport.
Regarding Urban Transport, the objectives of the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH) are “To address the issue of mitigating climate change by taking appropriate action with respect to the transport sector such as evolving integrated land use and transportation plans, achieving a modal shift from private to public mode of transportation, encouraging the use of non-motorised transport, improving fuel efficiency, and encouraging use of alternate fuels, etc. To evolve strategies for adaptation in terms of realignment and relocation, design standards and planning for roads, rail and other infrastructure to cope with warming and climate change”.
As a first step towards implementation of the Mission, MoUD has constituted a sub-committee for formulation of draft National Sustainable Habitat parameters on urban transport under the chairmanship Shri S.K Lohia, OSD (UT) and E.O. JS, MoUD. The terms of reference of this sub-committee are to propose National Sustainable Habitat parameters for urban transport that specially address the following:
- Development of Norms integrating measures related to Taxation, Parking and Congestion Charges, Public Carriage specifications and Service
- Norms to encourage public transportation
- Development of norms for Pedestrianization /Cycling
- Development of model regulations pertaining to registration of diesel propelled personal vehicles as per NSMH
- Model Regulations for integrating Transport Planning (CMP) with Master Plans
- Adoption of model regulations /norms by various States/UTs
The following Principles have been proposed for urban transport:
- Walk: Develop neighbourhoods that promote walking
- Cycle: Prioritize cycle networks
- Connect: Create dense networks of streets and paths
- Transit: Support high quality transit
- Density, Diversity and Compactness
- Shift: Shift to sustainable modes by using technology, regulating road use, parking and fiscal measures
- Urban Transport Fund
- Transport Impact Assessment
Parameters have been identified for each of these principles and as methods of implementation suggested.
Download Parameters for the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat – Report of the Sub-Committee on Urban Transport