BENGALURU, 24 JULY 

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has called for the formation of a dedicated Urban Transport Cadre to address India’s growing urban mobility crisis. Raising the issue under Rule 377 in the Lok Sabha, Surya said fragmented planning and a lack of domain experts have led to poor urban transport outcomes.

Surya said that of the 12,000 urban planning posts recommended by NITI Aayog, fewer than 4,000 are sanctioned—and many remain vacant. He pointed out that most urban local bodies function without trained planners, relying on general administrators or traffic police.

He has proposed creating an All India Service for Urban Transport Management, similar to the IAS or IPS, and urged the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to act as the nodal body for urban mobility guidelines.

Due to parliamentary disruptions, Surya was unable to speak in the House but submitted his intervention in writing. 

With four Indian cities now ranked among the world’s worst for traffic congestion, Surya emphasised that this issue deserves urgent national attention.

“This is not just about congestion—it’s about the sustainability and productivity of Indian cities,” Surya said.