SuStainable urban tranSport in india Role of the Auto-rickshaw Sector

report by: AkshAy MAni project Manager urban transport eMbarQ india [email protected] Madhav Pai director eMbarQ india [email protected] Rishi Aggarwal associate institutional relations eMbarQ india [email protected] design and layout by: nick Price about Wri the World resources institute is a global environmental think tank that goes beyond research to put ideas into action. We work with governments, companies, and civil society to build practical solutions to urgent environmental challenges. Wri's transformative ideas protect the earth and promote development because sustainability is essential to meeting human needs and fulfilling human aspirations for the future. about eMbarQ the eMbarQ global network catalyzes environmentally and financially sustainable transport solutions to improve quality of life in cities. Since 2002, the network has grown to include five Centers for Sustainable transport, located in Mexico, brazil, india, turkey and the andean region, that work together with local transport authorities to reduce pollution, improve public health, and create safe, accessible and attractive urban public spaces. the network employs more than 100 experts in fields ranging from architecture to air quality management; geography to journalism; and sociology to civil and transport engineering. 3 Sustainable Urban Transport in India ForeWord Since the introduction of auto-rickshaws in India in the late 1950s, these vehicles have become an indispensable aspect of urban mobility for millions of people. Auto rickshaws play a vital and vibrant role in India's urban transport systems. Yet they also represent a very improvisational and increasingly inefficient sector – and they are getting lost in the changing dynamics of urban mobility in India. Today, with increasing urban populations, there is growth in demand for urban transport, growth in private motorization and a decline in public transport share. How do auto rickshaws fit in and have a role that is efficient – for both the operators and their passengers? And how can these three-wheeled wonders contribute to urban transport sustainability – through both reductions in emissions and safety for everyone on the roads? This report addresses how the auto rickshaw sector can play a key role in improving sustainability for urban transport, and addresses negative perceptions of rickshaws. We also introduce new models of regulation and reforms that can be adopted for a more efficient and safer system and enable the rickshaw to have an optimal role in the transport mix. It is our hope that this study will make a useful contribution to the deliberations, planning and decision making …