FUNDING PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS IN METROPOLITAN CITIES

This paper considers various aspects of the financing of public transport in large Indian cities, which face a "vicious circle" of rising costs and fares and declining services and patronage. The author discusses: (1) basic problems of funding; (2) funding practices in India and other countries; (3) sources of finance; and (4) financial strategies. He presents the following conclusions and recommendations: (1) India does not yet consider its transport system an essential part of its economy; (2) the basic problem of Indian public transport is lack of availability of the right funds at the right time; (3) traffic management and control measures should supplement capital-intensive transport projects; (4) a single coordinating authority should plan, administer and finance public transport; (5) there is not yet any legal basis for raining adequate funds for public transport; (6) urban public transport systems, both bus and rail, should be placed under integrated authorities, separate from the intercity rail system; (7) a flexible fare policy should be developed, to cover operating costs at least; (8) Indian public transport should be financed jointly by national, state and local governments and from other sources; (9) the Delhi development authority should support public transport by cross-subsidising from land resources; (10) employers should be charged some amount per employee to assist public transport; (11) people in higher income groups should contribute through a surcharge on sales tax; and (12) central government could provide loans interest-free or at low interest rates. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1790571
• Corporate Authors:

  Indian Roads Congress

  Jamnagar House, Shahjahan Road
  New Delhi,   India  110 011
• Authors:
  • Bhau, T R
• Publication Date: 1989-9

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 19-29
• Serial:
  • Indian Highways
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: Indian Roads Congress
  • ISSN: 0376-7256

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administration; Economic factors; Economics; Federal government; Financing; Policy; Public transit; Tariffs; Transportation
• Geographic Terms: India
• ITRD Terms: 155: Administration; 263: Economics of transport; 244: Financing; 183: Government (national); 8045: India; 173: Policy; 744: Public transport; 241: Tariff
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Policy; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00497801
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM