1 Sep, 2015
Int’l Road Union launches high-level group to grow bus & coach transport on India’s roads by 2030
New Delhi, IRU Press Release 31 August 2015 – A new high-level group of leading Indian and international transport stakeholders has launched in New Delhi.
Initiated by IRU as part of its Smart Move Campaign, the new Group aims to substantially increase the use of collective passenger transport on India’s roads by 2030.
Ananda Rao, Executive Director of India’s Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU) said “We welcome the creation of the Smart Move High Level Group and the beginning of the hard work that will identify the challenges and shape policy to increase the use of buses and coaches. We believe that this work will further the drive to improve service and safety standards, bringing better bus and coach services to the people of India.”
The All-India Smart Move High Level Group was launched this month in New Delhi at ASRTU’s International Conference and Exhibition on Public Transport Innovation. It brings together representatives from private businesses, associations and other stakeholders from civil society.
“The High-Level group will identify how bus, coach and taxi transport contributes to sustainable mobility in India”, said Yves Mannaerts, President of IRU’s Passenger Transport Council. “It’s important that Indian solutions are found to address the unique challenges of India’s future transport needs.”
Focusing on smart urban mobility including taxis, regular intercity coach services and coach-based tourism, the All-India Smart Move High Level group will lay out a joint vision on the role of buses, coaches and taxis, develop policy and business recommendations to substantially increase passenger numbers, and share best practices.
Group coordinator Dr Kulwant Singh, Advisor on Urban Basic Services for UN-HABITAT said, “UN-Habitat is happy to partner with IRU and collaborate in facilitating road transport and promoting safe and sustainable mobility of people and goods by road in India, thus contributing to the national goal of 100 smart cities and also implementation of the United Nations Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals”.
“As part of the Group’s work, UN-Habitat shall be joining hands with IRU and other partners for smart mobility in 500 Indian cities in the Ministry of Urban Development’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Programme”.
About Smart Move
Smart Move is a global IRU campaign to promote sustainable mobility by bus and coach. The All-India Group is one of several high-level expert groups launched and run by IRU in various regions, including the EU, Eurasia and Morocco. The All-India Group includes representatives from IRU, the ASRTU, UN-Habitat, Embarq India, the Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions and MERU Cabs, with additional stakeholders invited when relevant.
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