Autobayng News Team
Govt has begun drafting a bill to set up Delhi Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (DUMTA), an umbrella body aimed at streamlining the city’s fragmented transport system. Chief minister Rekha Gupta has constituted a high-level task force and asked it to finalise the draft legislation at the earliest, the chief minister’s office said on Friday.The proposed body, along with a dedicated Delhi Urban Transport Fund, is pitched as a long-term institutional reform to bring all transport planning, coordination and investment under one framework. Multiple agencies now handle different aspects of mobility in Delhi, often operating in silos, leading to overlapping routes, inefficient planning and gaps in last-mile connectivity.The task force is chaired by the chief secretary and includes senior officials from the transport, urban development, finance, planning, public works and police departments, besides representatives from agencies such as Delhi Development Authority, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi Transport Corporation, NCR Transport Corporation and Indian Railways. Urban transport experts may also be consulted to incorporate global best practices.Officials said the move followed long-standing demands from planners and civic groups for a unified authority capable of coordinating Delhi’s expanding metro, bus and regional rail networks. “The idea is to move away from piecemeal solutions and adopt a systems-based approach to mobility,” a senior official said.CM emphasised that Delhi’s rising population and vehicular load required structural reforms. “DUMTA will bring cohesion to the city’s entire mobility system. Metro, buses, regional rail, railways and feeder services will be planned together to ensure efficiency and convenience for citizens.” Gupta pointed out that strengthening public transport and improving last-mile connectivity were critical to reducing dependence on private vehicles, a major contributor to air pollution. “Vehicular emissions remain a key local source of pollution. Integrated public transport is central to our long-term strategy to combat this challenge,” she said.The concept aligns with National Urban Transport Policy, 2006, which envisages unified metropolitan authorities in million-plus cities for strategic planning and coordinated implementation of urban transport projects.
DUMTA is expected to oversee preparation and implementation of a comprehensive mobility plan, coordinate investments, rationalise fares and promote multimodal integration, including unified ticketing and seamless feeder services. The proposed fund will provide a dedicated financial backbone for long-term projects.
The task force will finalise DUMTA’s structure, conduct stakeholder consultations, assist in drafting and enacting the bill, and help define the authority’s vision, mission and goals, said officials.
Delhi govt, has meanwhile, tied up with a cooperative taxi platform to strengthen urban mobility and driver welfare. The Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) signed an MoU with Sahkar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the cooperative arm of Bharat Taxi. The partnership will roll out technology-enabled taxi services for tourists and daily commuters, with trained drivers doubling up as Delhi tourism ambassadors.
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