Delhi Government Moves to Create Unified Transport Authority, Begins Drafting Key Legislation

In a significant step aimed at overhauling urban mobility in the national capital, the Delhi government has initiated the process of drafting a comprehensive law to establish the Delhi Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (DUMTA). Alongside this, the government also plans to create a dedicated Delhi Urban Transport Fund (DUTF) to support long-term transport infrastructure and services.

The proposed legislation is intended to bring coherence to Delhi’s complex and often fragmented transport system, which currently involves multiple agencies operating with limited coordination. Officials familiar with the development said the initiative reflects the government’s intention to place all major modes of transport under a single planning and governance framework.

According to a government statement, the draft Bill aims to streamline planning, investment, and operations across the city’s transport ecosystem. At present, different agencies oversee metro rail, city buses, roads, traffic management, and suburban rail services, often leading to overlapping responsibilities and inefficiencies. The new authority is expected to function as an integrated body responsible for long-term mobility planning and coordination.

To expedite the drafting process, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has constituted a high-level task force headed by the Chief Secretary. The task force has been asked to prepare and submit the draft legislation at the earliest, signalling what the government describes as a strong sense of urgency in addressing Delhi’s mobility challenges.

The task force includes senior officials from key departments such as transport, urban development, finance, planning, public works, and the Delhi Police. Representatives from major civic and transport institutions, including the Delhi Development Authority, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi Transport Corporation, National Capital Region Transport Corporation, and Indian Railways, are also part of the group. The government has indicated that well-known experts in urban transport planning may be co-opted to ensure the proposed framework aligns with global best practices while remaining grounded in local realities.

Explaining the need for the reform, officials pointed to the pressures created by rapid urbanisation, population growth, and a steady rise in private vehicle ownership in the capital. These factors have contributed to chronic congestion, longer travel times, and increased environmental stress. Policymakers believe that structural reforms, rather than isolated projects, are required to address these issues effectively.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that Delhi’s transport agencies have historically functioned in silos, with limited coordination in route planning, infrastructure development, and service delivery. She said the proposed authority would help bring cohesion to the city’s urban mobility system by placing all major transport modes—including metro rail, city buses, regional rail, and feeder services—within a single planning jurisdiction.

“This approach will allow mobility solutions to be integrated, efficient, and focused on the needs of citizens,” the Chief Minister said in a statement, adding that the goal is to make public transport more reliable and accessible across the city.

A key objective of DUMTA is to reduce congestion on Delhi’s roads by strengthening public transport and improving last-mile connectivity. Officials said better integration between different modes—such as seamless transfers between metro stations and bus or feeder services—could encourage commuters to shift away from private vehicles.

The environmental dimension of the reform has also been highlighted as a major motivation. Vehicular emissions are a significant contributor to air pollution in Delhi, particularly during winter months when air quality often deteriorates to hazardous levels. Government officials argue that expanding and improving public transport is central to reducing dependence on private cars and two-wheelers, thereby lowering emissions over time.

The proposed Delhi Urban Transport Fund is expected to provide a stable financial mechanism to support transport projects, maintenance, and innovation. While details of the fund’s structure are still being worked out, officials said it could draw from a mix of government allocations, user charges, and other revenue streams linked to transport and urban development.

Urban planning experts have long advocated the creation of a unified transport authority for Delhi, noting that global cities with integrated governance structures tend to deliver more efficient and user-friendly mobility systems. They argue that a single authority can better align land use planning with transport investments, ensuring that new infrastructure supports sustainable urban growth.

While the drafting process is still at an early stage, the government has indicated that stakeholder consultations will be part of the exercise. Inputs from civic groups, transport professionals, and public representatives are expected to be considered before the Bill is finalised and introduced in the legislature.

If enacted, the law would mark one of the most significant institutional reforms in Delhi’s transport sector in recent years. Officials said the success of DUMTA would ultimately depend on how effectively it is empowered, funded, and coordinated with existing agencies.

For now, the government maintains that the initiative represents a decisive move towards building a modern, efficient, and environmentally sustainable transport system for the national capital, with the needs of commuters placed at the centre of policy-making.