Needed: Transit-oriented development

REDUCED DEPENDENCE ON CARS WOULD BE VITAL FOR DELHI WHERE VEHICLES ARE A MAJOR SOURCE OF CONGESTION AND POLLUTION

NEWDELHI: Delhi needs transit oriented development (TOD) to encourage the use of public transport and reduce dependence on cars as the high volume of vehicles is a major source of congestion and pollution.

Although integrated in the Delhi Master Plan 2021, the TOD policy — which promotes living close to mass urban transit corridors such as the metro and monorail — is not being implemented.

These topics were discussed at the Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) conclave on clean and low carbon mobility.

“If the government had started developing the housing project in line with the TOD principle, it would not have had to cut as many trees to carve out basements to serve as car parks... TOD guidelines provide for small block sizes, open spaces, trees and accessible streets,” Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, said.

The TOD policy was notified in 2015. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had approved the draft regulations in February 2016. But it is yet to be notified as the Union housing and urban affairs ministry had asked DDA to review it. Last year, DDA had asked the National Institute of Urban Affairs to review it.

The TOD policy allows a city to have high-density development without compromising on the openness. But experts said building by-laws need to be reframed in order to make the policy clear.

“The policy does not make it clear that a housing project along the metro should have fewer car parks. It is crucial to fix a ratio on the number of car parks in such projects ,” said Moulshree Joshi, an architect associated with the protest against tree felling.

The panel of experts observed that lack of connectivity–particularly to metro stations as well as a lack of safety for walkers and cyclists in the city –has resulted in public transport being relegated as the last choice of travel.

“This has resulted in more private vehicles plying in the city. Delhi needs a multi-modal integration in order to discourage ownership and usage of personal vehicles,” Samir Sharma, vicepresident, DIMTS, said.