A Holistic Approach To India’s Urban Mobility And Rural Development

India’s population of 1.4 billion is divided between urban and rural areas. Currently, 36.36% live in cities, while 63.64% reside in villages (1). However, migration to urban centers has created dense clusters that strain infrastructure and resources.

Two-wheelers dominate India’s vehicle market, accounting for over 80% of sales, while passenger cars represent about 13% (2). Although two-wheelers are space-efficient, their sheer numbers, combined with the growth of cars, exacerbate congestion and pollution.

According to the TomTom Traffic Index 2023, Bengaluru and Pune rank among the world’s most congested cities, where commuters spend hours in gridlock (3). The key contributors to congestion include:

A) High Vehicle Density: Private vehicle ownership has grown rapidly, outpacing infrastructural development.
B) Mixed Traffic Patterns: The coexistence of buses, auto-rickshaws, bikes, and cars on poorly regulated roads leads to chaos.
C) Inadequate Public Transport: Traditional buses often operate below capacity, wasting valuable road space.
D) Rural-Urban Migration: Economic opportunities in cities have fueled a steady exodus from villages, intensifying urban congestion.

Addressing this challenge requires bold policymaking at the State and Central level, visionary leadership, and collaboration with premier institutions. Below are strategies tailored to India’s unique context.

1. Encouraging Ride-Sharing Platforms

Ride-sharing has the potential to transform urban mobility. To promote this, full-time drivers for platforms like Uber and Ola should receive incentives, such as zero GST on the purchase of used two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers for an initial period of 3–5 years. These benefits can later be extended to new vehicle purchases. In contrast, private ownership of two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers should attract higher GST rates, with the highest rates and an additional surtax applied to discourage private four-wheeler purchases.

This strategy aims to optimize the use of all vehicle types already on the road, reducing congestion over time. However, it requires all full-time drivers of two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers to operate through ride-sharing platforms to qualify for these benefits. The current system of rapidly increasing vehicle production within limited urban space is clearly unsustainable.

2. Right-Sizing Public Transport

Large buses often run below capacity, especially during non-peak hours. Smaller vehicles, such as six seater electric vans, could replace them, operating more frequently along the same routes. Exceptions can be made for tourist buses that usually run at full capacity.

3. Supporting Vulnerable Populations

Seniors above 65 and students could benefit from discounted fares on ride-sharing platforms. Providing these groups with affordable transport options would encourage higher adoption of shared mobility.

4. Promoting Reverse Migration through Rural Development

The root cause of urban congestion lies in rural-to-urban migration. Addressing this issue requires creating vibrant rural ecosystems that provide economic opportunities, quality education, and robust social infrastructure while preserving rural flora and fauna.

State governments must incentivize sustainable rural development by offering tax breaks, infrastructure support, and low-interest loans to startups, corporations, and educational institutions that establish operations in rural areas. However, this growth must prioritize environmental conservation, ensuring that pristine rural landscapes are not transformed into urban sprawl by real estate developers. Strict land-use policies should safeguard forests, farmlands, and biodiversity hotspots from overdevelopment.

Globally, clean-tech startups have shown how innovation can coexist with environmental preservation. Industries such as lab-grown honey, coffee, cotton, leather, diamonds, and wood offer sustainable alternatives that do not exploit natural ecosystems. Similarly, technologies like microbial extraction of precious metals from e-waste highlight how rural economies can thrive without compromising the environment. The National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and several state-level programs could benefit from exploring and integrating these technologies to foster sustainable growth.

India must actively promote a robust microbiology and clean-tech ecosystem in rural areas, emphasizing harmony with nature. The "Make in India" initiative should align with sustainable rural development, fostering industries that generate economic growth while preserving biodiversity and preventing unchecked urbanization

Kerala has effectively reduced rural-to-urban migration by promoting its traditional Ayurvedic healthcare system, which has created employment opportunities in rural areas and attracted patients from across India and abroad. The state has developed an extensive network of Ayurvedic hospitals and wellness centers in rural regions, which not only provide healthcare but also generate livelihoods for local communities through farming medicinal plants, manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines, and offering hospitality services.

Zoho’s decision to establish operations in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, has transformed the rural town into a burgeoning tech hub. Under the visionary leadership of CEO Sridhar Vembu, Zoho also launched Zoho Schools of Learning, which provides free technical education to underprivileged students. This initiative has created local employment opportunities, significantly reducing migration to urban areas. (4)

Similarly, Madhu Chandan, an IIM Bangalore graduate, left a successful corporate career in the US to address the challenges faced by farmers in his hometown of Mandya, Karnataka. Witnessing issues like debt burdens, limited market access, and unsustainable farming practices, he founded Organic Mandya, a company dedicated to promoting organic farming and enhancing the livelihoods of local farmers. Today, the enterprise employs approximately 1,400 local people, making a substantial impact on the community.

 

The Amul model has empowered rural dairy farmers by establishing robust supply chains and providing fair prices for their produce. By creating sustainable livelihoods in villages, Amul has mitigated rural-to-urban migration (5).

 

Ralegan Siddhi Watershed Development
The Ralegan Siddhi watershed development program, led by social activist Anna Hazare, transformed a drought-prone village in Maharashtra into a model of sustainable rural development. By implementing rainwater harvesting structures like check dams, contour trenches, and percolation tanks, the initiative ensured year-round water availability, boosting agricultural productivity and enabling crop diversification. Community-driven efforts such as afforestation, bans on open grazing, and the promotion of rural industries created new livelihood opportunities. These holistic measures significantly improved the village's economy and quality of life, effectively curbing migration to urban centers.(6)

 

Other grassroots rural development initiatives include:
Aadiwasi Janjagruti, Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), S M Sehgal Foundation, CORO India, SEWA Bharat, Swacha Bharath, and so on. There are several national and State level initiatives that are all doing a commendable job.

5. Avoiding Overambitious Projects

 

India must resist adopting extravagant and impractical solutions, such as building sophisticated underground tunnels or other highly ambitious projects unsuitable for densely populated cities. Grandiose projects often divert resources from essential infrastructure and exacerbate rural-to-urban migration, further congesting urban areas and creating urban sprawl. Large urban initiatives, such as elevated expressways or in some cases high-speed metros, can overshadow the need to improve rural connectivity, healthcare, and education, which are critical for balanced development.

India’s urban congestion demands innovative transport models that balance efficiency, equity, and sustainability. By integrating ride-sharing incentives, right-sizing public transport, promoting electric vehicles, and fostering rural development, India can create a roadmap for cleaner, greener cities.

State governments must collaborate with premier institutions, embrace data-driven decision-making, and engage local communities. The future lies in addressing day-to-day challenges with practical solutions rather than grandiose projects. By doing so, India can build a sustainable future where both cities and villages thrive.

References
1. Trading Economics. (2023). Urban population (% of total population) - India. tradingeconomics.com.
2. Statista. (2023). Share of vehicles in India by type. statista.com.
3. Times of India. (2023, February 9). 10 World’s Most Congested Cities. timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
4. Zoho Corporation. (2023). Rural Empowerment through Education and Employment. zoho.com.
5. Amul India. (2023). The Amul Story: Empowering Rural Farmers. amul.com.
6. Hazare, Anna. Ralegan Siddhi: A Veritable Transformation. National Informatics Centre, Government of India. Available at: http://rural.nic.in/ralegan-siddhi