DEHRADUN: THE idea of creating a Devbhoomi Capital Region (DCR) for public transport in Uttarakhand is gaining attention amid rising traffic congestion and unplanned urban growth in the state.
Social activist Anoop Nautiyal said the proposal deserves serious discussion as strengthening public transport has become the need of the hour.
Tagging Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Nautiyal said the CM too has shown inclination towards sustainable urban development and modern infrastructure planning in the state.
He said Uttarakhand cannot sustain endless traffic jams and rapid urban expansion without investing in a strong public mobility system.
The proposed DCR will include towns and cities like Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Roorkee, Vikasnagar and Doiwala.
Nautiyal said there is still no properly connected public transport network in the region.
He said people are being forced to depend on private cars and two-wheelers because of the lack of reliable public transport.
Quoting vehicle registration data, he said nearly 91 per cent of vehicles registered in Dehradun RYO last year were cars and two-wheelers.
He said this trend clearly shows the growing dependence on private vehicles in the absence of public mobility infrastructure.
Nautiyal urged the state government to change its existing transport policies and focus more on building an integrated public transport system.
He said even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed the need to strengthen public transport systems in view of the global oil crisis.
Urban planners and environmental experts have also warned that unchecked vehicle growth could worsen pollution, congestion and pressure on Uttarakhand’s fragile ecology in the coming years.
