Working Groups for the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012)

Urban Transport including Mass Rapid Transport Systems

Dated 1st May 2006

In the context of formulation of the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012), it has been decided to set up a Working Group on Urban Transport including Mass Rapid Transport Systems for Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012). The composition of the Working Group will be as follows:

2. The Terms of Reference of the Working Group are as follows :

1. To estimate the transport needs, not only for the current urban population of cities but also for the needs of those who are yet to join the urban population.
2. i. To suggest measures so as to ensure that appropriate comprehensive city development plans with integrated traffic and transportation plans are prepared under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission for each city with integration of land use planning and transportation plans.
   ii. To make recommendations as to the manner in which all available public transport technologies may be evaluated and the mix of modes and technologies that best suit local conditions for each city should be selected.
3. To review the policies, performance of various schemes and programmes in Urban Transport including MRTS, externally aided projects during Tenth Plan with particular reference to the achievements of the prescribed objectives, targets and to point out the shortcomings.
4. To suggest necessary modifications in the schemes, if any, required for better implementation.
5. To suggest a pricing policy for public transport which may, inter alia, include suggestions on who should pay for public transport and in what proportion.
6. To suggest a mechanism for common ticketing across various modes of public transport and also a mechanism for revenue sharing between various operators.
7. To suggest objectives, policies, strategies and programmes for the improvement of urban transport during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period.
8. To make realistic estimates of outlays required for achieving the desired goals and objectives and targets set for the Eleventh Plan.
9. To suggest financing mechanisms which may, inter alia, include using land as a resource and also levy of dedicated taxes.
10. To estimate requirements for O and M; to suggest how fees can be collected without interrupting flow of traffic.
11. To consider and make recommendations regarding implementation of projects through PPP/BOT mode.
12. To suggest how cities should have urban road systems and adequate bus services; low national norms for urban roads (and storm drains) can be stipulated so as to avoid flooding; how dedicated busways can be planned and implemented.
13. To propose standards and bench marks for appraisal of future proposals and also to propose threshold level for population of a city, when planning for Mass Transit Systems should start.
14. To review the measures for suitable bye passes, ring roads, flyovers, as also for truck terminals outside city limits; to suggest policies for preparation of road maps for towns with heavy traffic particularly those with links to national highways and having inadequate provision for appropriate link with State highways.
15. To suggest policies for setting up of unified metropolitan transport authorities in all million plus cities to facilitate more coordinated planning and implementation of urban transport programmes and projects.
16. To suggest measures to use cleaner technologies, to have a time bound schedule of progressively tighter emission norms so that pollution levels are kept within the permissible limits.
17. (a) To suggest policies for building bye laws so that adequate parking space is available for all residents/users of buildings (b) to suggest policies for parking complexes (including multi-level complexes) and (c) to suggest legal provisions to be made in appropriate legislation to prevent the use of the right of way on road systems for parking purposes.
18. To suggest what measures require to be taken for capacity building at ULB, State and National levels.
19. To examine and make recommendations regarding all other matters relevant and incidental to the above terms of reference.

3.1. The Chairman of the Working Group may co-opt any additional member(s), official or non-official and constitute smaller group, sub-groups as may be considered necessary.

3.2. The expenditure on TA/DA of the official members in connection with the meetings of the group will be met by the respective Government Department/Institutions to which they belong. TA/DA of non-official members will be borne by the Ministry of Urban Development as admissible under Government Rules.

4. The report of the Working Group may be submitted to the Planning Commission within four months.