The Delhi government has initiated the process to draft legislation for the establishment of the Delhi Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (DUMTA) and the Delhi Urban Transport Fund (DUTF) with the objective of integrating and strengthening urban transport services in the national capital.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has constituted a high-level task force under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary and directed it to prepare and submit the draft bill for the formation of DUMTA within three weeks. The government stated that the initiative is aimed at ensuring faster and coordinated implementation of urban transport reforms.
The task force comprises senior officials from the transport, urban development, finance, planning and public works departments, along with officers from the Delhi Police. Representatives from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi Transport Corporation, National Capital Region Transport Corporation, Delhi Development Authority and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi have also been included. Urban transport experts have been co-opted to the task force.
According to the Chief Minister, DUMTA will integrate all transport services in Delhi, including metro, buses, regional rail, railways and feeder networks, to enable coordinated route planning, infrastructure development and service delivery. The government stated that the proposed authority is intended to strengthen public transport, improve last-mile connectivity and reduce dependence on private vehicles.
The government said the formation of DUMTA is expected to contribute to reduced traffic congestion and lower vehicular emissions by encouraging greater use of public transport. The Chief Minister stated that the initiative forms part of the government’s long-term strategy to address air pollution through an organised and reliable public transport network.
The concept of DUMTA aligns with the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority framework proposed under the National Urban Transport Policy, 2006. Under this framework, transport agencies, urban local bodies, traffic police and road infrastructure agencies are to be brought under a single institutional structure to facilitate coordinated planning, transport investment and resolution of overlapping jurisdictions in Delhi and the National Capital Region.
The government stated that DUMTA will be responsible for implementing a comprehensive mobility plan, preparing transport investment programmes and ensuring coordination among various transport agencies. Financial resources for urban transport projects will be mobilised through the Delhi Urban Transport Fund.
The task force will finalise the organisational structure of DUMTA, conduct stakeholder consultations and assist in the legislative process. It will also facilitate meetings to define the vision, mission and objectives of the proposed authority.
