Context: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture presented its 392nd Report, Enabling Inclusive, Digital and Sustainable Bus Transport: Policy, Regulation and Public-Private Partnership for Next-Gen Mobility.
About Parliamentary Committee Report on Digital & Sustainable Bus Transport:
What is it?
- The 392nd Report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture is a comprehensive roadmap for transforming India’s bus transport ecosystem through digitalization, regulatory reforms, safety enhancement, infrastructure modernization, and public-private partnerships (PPP) to build an inclusive, efficient, and sustainable mobility network.
Key Recommendations:
- All India Passenger Permit:
- Replace the All India Tourist Permit with an All India Passenger Permit.
- Integrate permits with VAHAN, FASTag, and vehicle tracking.
- National Bus Terminals Authority:
- Establish a National Bus Terminals Authority (NBTA) on the lines of the Airports Authority of India.
- Introduce a National Code for Bus Terminals.
- National Bus Digital Grid:
- Create a nationwide interoperable digital bus platform.
- Develop a GIS-based National Bus Network Atlas.
- Strengthening Safety Standards:
- Complete deployment of Automated Testing Stations (ATSs).
- Mandate checks for fire safety, emergency exits, and alert systems.
- Electric & Leased Bus Transition:
- Promote scrap-and-lease fleet models.
- Develop recycling and end-of-life frameworks for EV batteries.
- Establish regional EV manufacturing and maintenance hubs.
- Women & Tourist-Friendly Transport:
- Launch dedicated peak-hour services with women drivers and staff.
- Create a National Tourist Bus Grid with unified multimodal ticketing.
- Establish accredited Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) systems.
- Dedicated Public Transport Funding:
- Create a separate budget head for public transport infrastructure.
- Consider allocating around 25% of road infrastructure funding to public transport.
- State Performance Ranking:
- Publish an annual State of the States Bus Transport Index.
- National Bus Data Architecture:
- Integrate all states into the VAHAN platform.
- Develop a federated national database while retaining state ownership.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus
- GS Paper II – Governance
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- Parliamentary Standing Committees and evidence-based policy reforms.
- Cooperative federalism and digital governance in public service delivery.
- GS Paper III – Infrastructure
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- Sustainable transport and urban mobility.
- Electric mobility, intelligent transport systems, and logistics modernization.
