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Parliamentary Committee Report on Digital & Sustainable Bus Transport

Kumari Sonali

Parliamentary Committee Report on Digital & Sustainable Bus Transport:

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.

  • 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.