Urban Transport Governance Practice and Challenges in an Emerging Economy – Case Study of India

India is witnessing rapid urbanization with 31% of country’s population in urban areas which have witnessed a growth rate of 3.16% per annum. Projections (Census 2011) are that by 2031, about 600 million Indians will reside in urban areas, an increase of over 200 million in just 20 years. This Urban India is expected to contribute about 75% to GDP by 2030, up from 63% in 2014. These changes have placed heavy demands on urban transport systems, and to facilitate this, what is required is a sound urban transport policy which can be understood and implemented by officials who are part of the institutional set-up for effective governance. The importance of appropriate transport institutional framework is critical to implementing informed policy decisions. India’s urban transport governance currently has fragmented authority, limited institutional support and capacity for creating a transport system that can be leveraged for urban planning, environment, and social goals (including, in particular, limited scope for coordination between land use planning and transport system development), and lack of channels for broad input from local citizens and businesses. This paper attempts to critically analyze the emerging mobility challenges consequent to urbanization pattern in India. It provides an overview of the best urban transport governance practices across the globe and identifies key takeaways in urban transport governance for cities in the developing world such as India for possible adoption.