Problem

By the end of this decade, India will host some of the world’s fastest-growing cities. These cities, once small district headquarters, have grown into urban hubs due to industrial growth and internal migration. In 2023, around 520 million people in India resided in cities, a figure expected to surpass 600 million by 2030. However, urban areas in India are already struggling to provide adequate infrastructure needed by their inhabitants, with half of the residents living in slums with very poor conditions. 

A by-product of this rapid urbanisation without adequate capacity of housing in the city is higher demand for transportation and longer commute distances. It is estimated that urban residents in India spend up to 30% of their income on transportation, and traveling at least 14 kilometres on an average work day. The transportation sector is also one of the largest contributors of India’s greenhouse gas emissions, and with over 250 million vehicles on the roads, urban areas contribute 40% of India’s transportation emissions. 

Responses

India’s Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is collaborating with German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), and KfW Development Bank to advance the green transition of transportation sector in Indian cities. Under the Green Urban Mobility Partnership (GUMP), stakeholders from government agencies, civil society organisations, private sector partners, and international organisations work together to promote more efficient, people-centric, and low-carbon mobility solutions in India. Some of the measures being implemented include the development of integrated public transport systems, promotion of active mobility through cycling and walking, deployment of electric vehicles, and creation of low-emission zones. 

GUMP falls under the umbrella of the SUM-ACA (Sustainable Urban Mobility – Air Quality, Climate Action, Accessibility) project, which is being implemented through a partnership between GIZ and MoHUA. While GIZ has a role of providing technical cooperation for the government agencies on sustainable, inclusive and smart transportation planning, BMZ is providing concessional loans through KfW over a period of five years for sustainable improvements to urban mobility infrastructure in India.

Find out more: Transformative Mobility