India’s Transport Systems Under Strain

Why in News ?

The year 2025 witnessed major disruptions across India’s transportation systems—severe train overcrowding, widespread flight cancellations, aviation safety concerns, and growing road congestion. These events highlight long-standing structural challenges of underinvestment, market concentration, and weak regulation, putting India’s mobility network under severe stress. These disruptions underscore the mismatch between rising travel demand and inadequate infrastructure capacity, amplified by neoliberal economic policies and fragmented planning.

Background & Context

India’s transport network—one of the world’s largest—carries millions daily. However:

• Demand for travel has risen sharply due to urbanization, migration, tourism, and economic expansion.
• Investment levels in core transport infrastructure have not kept pace.
• Market-led models in aviation, logistics, and urban mobility have produced oligopolistic behaviour, safety compromises, and uneven service quality.
• Climate-related disruptions (storms, floods, heatwaves) now increasingly affect mobility.

The 2025 aviation meltdown, frequent metro breakdowns, and continued rail safety concerns reflect systemic stress in India’s mobility ecosystem.

What’s in Today’s Article ?

• Challenges Confronting India’s Transport System
• Importance of Transport for India’s Economy
• Government Initiatives
• Measures Needed for Resilient and Safe Mobility
• FAQs

What Are the Challenges Hindering India’s Transport System ?

1. Infrastructure Gaps and Outdated Capacity

• Major metros (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata) face severe congestion and lack integrated last-mile connectivity.
• Railways suffer from overcrowding, especially suburban systems, leading to unsafe travel conditions.
• Many national and state highways remain bottlenecked; average freight speed is 30–40 km/h.
• Outdated road designs, poor pedestrian infrastructure, and insufficient maintenance worsen delays.

2. Neoliberal Constraints & Market Imbalance

India’s economic approach has increasingly favoured private players while restricting large-scale public sector investment.

Consequences include:

• Under-funded public transport (buses, rail) → overcrowded, slow, unsafe.
• Private sector dominance (e.g., IndiGo’s 60% market share) → limited competition, fare spikes, poor service accountability.
• Deregulation without strong oversight → weak consumer protection, especially visible in aviation.

3. Persistent Safety Failures

• India has one of the highest road fatality rates globally.
• Railway accidents and track failures persist despite technology upgrades.
• The 2025 Air India crash in Ahmedabad, killing 200+ people, renewed scrutiny on aviation oversight.

4. Environmental Unsustainability

• Transport accounts for 14% of India’s energy-related CO₂ emissions.
• EV transition remains slow; charging infrastructure is uneven.
• Roads, airports, and rail tracks increasingly face damage from extreme weather.

5. Weak Data-Driven Mobility Management

• Cities lack real-time traffic systems, predictive modelling, integrated transport data, or AI-enabled analytics.
• Smart transport solutions exist only in select urban pockets.

6. Logistical Inefficiencies

• High logistics cost (13–14% of GDP), driven by:
  • Inefficient warehousing
  • Customs delays
  • Poor multimodal integration
  • Road-dependent freight movement

7. Governance & Corruption Challenges

• Delays in procurement, land acquisition, and project execution.
• Lack of transparency in tenders contributes to budget overruns and abandoned projects.

8. Social Equity & Accessibility Gaps

• Public transport often inaccessible for:
  • Elderly
  • Women
  • Persons with disabilities
  • Low-income migrants
• Overcrowding, unsafe footpaths, and unreliable bus services worsen social exclusion.

Importance of India’s Transport Sector

• Economic Growth: Enables movement of goods and people, reducing costs and boosting industrial competitiveness.
• Social Integration: Connects remote regions and marginalized communities.
• Employment: Generates millions of direct & indirect jobs (drivers, logistics workers, aviation crew, rail staff).
• Supply Chain Stability: Essential during emergencies—pandemics, disasters, or agricultural crises.
• National Integration: Strengthens defence preparedness and remote-area connectivity.

Government Initiatives for Transport Sector Development

What Measures Can Strengthen India’s Transport System ?

1. Modernize Public Transport

• Use Gati Shakti & NIP to expand multimodal mobility.
• Upgrade suburban rail networks and bus fleets.
• Enhance rural–urban connectivity.

2. Increase Government Investment

• Adopt N. K. Singh Committee recommendations for flexible fiscal space under FRBM to increase capital expenditure.
• Prioritize long-term mobility infrastructure.

3. Build Safer Mobility Networks

• Implement Kavach 5.0 on all high-density railway routes.
• Enforce the National Road Safety Policy (2010).
• Mandate safety audits for metros, buses, and highways.

4. Promote Sustainable, Low-Carbon Transport

• Expand EV charging infrastructure.
• Promote cycling, walking, and green mobility.
• Integrate climate resilience into all transport designs.

5. Strengthen Data-Driven Governance

• Real-time traffic management systems for major cities.
• GPS-enabled public transport and integrated mobility cards.
• Use AI for congestion prediction and logistics optimization.

6. Improve Social Equity & Accessibility

• Implement accessibility provisions under the RPwD Act 2016.
• Ensure women’s safety through CCTV, panic buttons, last-mile shuttles.