The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 calls for making cities inclusive, safe, climate resilient, sustainable and inclusive. Urban mobility has become a top goal for cities around the world. This objective is strongly related to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of India agreed under the Paris Agreement and the New Urban Agenda (NUA), which together highlight the necessity of fair urban transformation and low-carbon development paths. Although these global agendas have been described by academics as progressive (Parnell, 2016; Simon, 2016), their implementation in the Global South’s rapidly urbanizing regions is nonetheless beset by institutional limitations, structural gaps and governance issues.
Over half of the world’s population today lives in cities, and by 2050, almost 68% of people will live in cities due to the acceleration of urbanization (UN DESA, 2019). With an estimated 400 million new urban residents by 2050, India is predicted to play a major role in this demographic change (UN, 2019). Approximately 75% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 60–80% of global energy use is already attributed to urban areas (IPCC, 2014; UN-Habitat, 2020). Nearly one-third of these emissions in cities come from transportation alone, with road transport emissions rising by 77% between 1990 and 2016 (IEA, 2017). Transport-sector emissions must be reduced by 40–70% by 2050 to keep global warming to 1.5°C (IPCC, 2022).
Mainstreaming Sustainable Transport for India’s Growing Cities#
The India Sustainable Mobility Initiative, managed by the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP), is one of the biggest efforts to shift India’s urban transportation trajectory toward low-carbon, inclusive, and resilient mobility. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and several state and local governments work with the International Climate Initiative (IKI), which has €4.85 million in funding and a project duration of 2015 to 2028, to mainstream sustainable mobility principles into frameworks for planning, investment, and governance. The proposal recognises that India’s predicted 200 million new urban residents by 2030 will significantly increase transportation demand and associated greenhouse gas emissions unless cities swiftly build high-quality public transportation, walking, and cycling infrastructure.
Bhubaneswar: A Model for Integrated and Inclusive Urban Mobility in India#
Building on its success, Bhubaneswar is now a case study of how low carbon, integrated and inclusive urban transportation systems may be put into place in quickly urbanising environments. Mo Bus and Mo E-Ride’s dual strategy demonstrates how cities may simultaneously promote sustainability and social inclusion while addressing both core and peripheral mobility demands. In a city where private vehicle ownership has been sharply increasing in recent years, the modernisation of fare collection and digital ticketing systems, along with improvements in service reliability have improved operational efficiency and made public transport more appealing to commuters.
According to CRUT data, ridership of Mo Bus has increased significantly over the past five years. The change happened, because of the switch from private vehicles to the Mo Bus and Mo E-Ride systems. 57% of passengers who previously relied on private means of transportation are now choosing public transit. In addition to lowering the carbon footprint of the commute. This modal shift eases traffic on the city’s main routes, making the streets safer and more effective for all users. Bhubaneswar’s emphasis on social inclusion is equally significant especially when it comes to gender inclusion. Women currently make up about 40% of Mo Bus riders. Similarly, inclusive initiatives have trained low-income locals to drive Mo E-Ride e-rickshaws.
India’s Path to Sustainable Urban Mobility: Challenges and Policy Directions#
National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP, 2014), which offers a comprehensive framework for sustainable, people-centric mobility. Walking, bicycling, and public transportation are prioritized above private vehicles in the policy. Promoting transit-oriented development (TOD) and integrating mobility planning through Comprehensive Mobility Plans (CMPs) should be the areas of focus. Additionally, giving top priority to first- and last-mile connectivity, high-quality bus networks, and non-motorized transportation infrastructure are also some important policy directions. However, there are still a lot of implementation gaps. City planning is dominated by engineering-led, vehicle-centric infrastructure, which frequently ignores commuter experience, integration, and universal accessibility. Bengaluru’s ₹9,800 crore bi-level elevated highway and Mumbai’s Western Express Highway, which carry approximately 2.2–3 million vehicles daily instead of the planned 0.5–1 million, are prime examples of induced demand and policy misalignment. Poor design, lax enforcement, and inadequate first- and last-mile integration have all contributed to the failure of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in places like Indore, Bhopal, Pune, Delhi, and Jodhpur.
Strong local-level planning, strengthening municipal finances and empowered organizations that can manage multimodal transportation investments are all necessary to address these issues. To guarantee sustainable, low-carbon, and sustainable urban transportation throughout India, policies must place a high priority on gender-inclusive mobility and integrated land-use planning.
Way Forward: The Promise of Sustainable Mobility#
Accessibility, fairness, and climate resilience are more important aspects of India’s urban transportation problem than just traffic. According to two significant studies, one commissioned by the Ministry of Urban Development and the other by the McKinsey Global Institute, urban roads and public transportation systems alone will require more than ₹1 lakh crore annually, or more than half of all expected urban investment, until 2031. The Avoid-Shift-Improve strategy, which is represented in the NUTP and supported by the Asian Development Bank, provides a practical route. Integrated Institutional Mechanisms of transportation is crucial for a well-planned transportation system. This idea remains central to rethinking urban mobility for an inclusive and Sustainable Urban Mobility.
References: #
Institute for Transportation & Development Policy. (2023, October 5). India: Bhubaneswar empowering women, improving transport connectivity. https://itdp.org/2023/10/05/india-bhubaneswar-empowering-women-improving-transport-connectivity/
International Climate Initiative. (n.d.). India Sustainable Mobility Initiative. https://www.international-climate-initiative.com/en/project/india-sustainable-mobility-initiative-15-i-254-ind-a-india-sustainable-mobility-initiative/
NITI Aayog. (n.d.). Sustainable urban transport: Way forward. https://www.niti.gov.in/sustainable-urban-transport-way-forward
ORF Expert Speak. (2023). Two decades on, the NUTP remains a roadblock to people-centric mobility. Observer Research Foundation. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/two-decades-on-the-nutp-remains-a-roadblock-to-people-centric-mobility
Clear Cut Climate Desk
New Delhi, UPDATED: Nov 27, 2025 02:55 IST
Written By: Nidhi Chandrikapure
