Gujarat govt sets up unified transport authority for A'bad, Surat
The state urban development department has established UMTA to unify transport-related efforts across the two metropolitan regions.
The govt resolution (GR) establishing UMTA notes that urban transport systems are crucial to progressive development, daily functionality and economic growth. It highlights that the rapid expansion of cities and metropolitan areas has rendered urban planning more complex, making well-functioning transport systems essential for ongoing development.
The GR states that the previous institutional framework lacked integration, creating a need for a unified mechanism. The National Urban Transport Policy, 2006, advocated for UMTA in cities with over a million residents to coordinate urban transport planning and management, addressing overlaps between multiple agencies.
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Additionally, under the Metro Rail Policy, 2017, state govts are required to operationalize UMTA in cities with either operational or developing metro projects.
The state govt had been considering establishing UMTA for Ahmedabad and Surat to handle proposal formulation, strategy monitoring, policy oversight, regulatory functions, transport demand management and coordination of agencies' implementation works.
The state-level UMTA has now been officially created, chaired by the chief secretary, and includes senior IAS and non-IAS officers as members.
Govt sources said that UMTA's specified functions for Ahmedabad and Surat include advising the govt on urban transport matters, formulating and administering transport policies, strategies, standards and guidelines and overseeing the integration of multi-modal transport systems in city master plans.
"The scope of work of UMTA will also include preparing comprehensive mobility plans (CMP), monitoring multi-year transport programmes, resolving conflicts or overriding submissions lacking integration and approving urban transport initiatives," said a source close to the development.
Officials added that the authority has also been mandated to promote integrated transport systems, oversee operations of the Traffic Management and Information Control Centre (TMIC) and National Public Transport Helpline (NPTH).
UMTA will also deploy or contract public transport services, recommending fees, fares and charges. The body will also enforce transport regulations and will create and manage an urban transport fund.
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