NITI Aayog plots one-nation-one-card policy for public transportation

India is set to get a one-nation-one-card policy for public transport if things go according to plan. This will bring seamless connectivity between various modes of transport, said Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, as per a news agency report.

The move is aimed at building a robust transportation sector, which is the backbone for the development of any economy, especially for a densely populated developing country like India, whose new mobility strategy is focused on sustainable modes of public transport, transport-oriented planning and digitisation.

Speaking at the sidelines of the ‘Future Mobility Summit-2018-India's Move to NextGen Transport Systems’, Kant said, "The objective of the strategy is to plan for the citizens first, rather than focusing on vehicles alone, by providing sustainable mobility and accessibility by switching to cleaner mode of transportation."

He said that the road transportation segment alone contributes to around four percent of India's GDP with the segment still being heavily dependent on fossil fuels. Speaking about the worsening air quality in the country's major cities, rising concerns of climate change and an ever-increasing oil import bill, mobility is a crucial piece of the development puzzle and the key to unlocking the potential of India's economy and people.

Anil Srivastava, advisor, NITI Aayog, said the government is working towards achieving a robust mobility ecosystem across India. "The citizens, on their part, should work towards sharing a ride, not owning the ride. The government has integrated many stakeholders across departments to drive India's mobility vision."