Urban Transport Trends and Policies in China and India: Impacts of Rapid Economic Growth

TLDR

Urban transport in China and India faces a crisis driven by rapid population growth, urbanization, and soaring motor vehicle ownership, leading to severe air pollution, congestion, and limited mobility for the poor. The paper critically evaluates government policies in both countries and proposes specific improvements. The authors recommend slowing roadway investment, expanding public transport, cycling, and walking, restricting vehicle use in city centres with higher taxes, and enforcing stricter emissions and safety regulations on manufacturers. Effective mitigation of motorization is essential for the future well‑being of Chinese and Indian cities and the global community, as unchecked motorization would accelerate greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and resource depletion.

Abstract

Abstract This paper provides a comparative overview of urban transport in the world's two most populous countries: China and India. Cities in both countries are suffering from severe and worsening transport problems: air pollution, noise, traffic injuries and fatalities, congestion, parking shortages, energy use, and a lack of mobility for the poor. The urban transport crisis in China and India results from continuing population growth, urbanization, suburban sprawl, rising incomes, and skyrocketing motor vehicle ownership and use. This paper critically assesses government policies in each country and suggests a range of specific improvements. It advocates a slowdown in the massive roadway investment in recent years and a shift in emphasis to expanding and improving public transport, cycling, and walking facilities. While continued growth in motor vehicle use is inevitable, China and India should restrict motor vehicle use in congested city centres and increase taxes, fees, and charges to reflect the enormous social and environmental costs of motor vehicle use. At the same time, much stricter regulations should be imposed on manufacturers to produce cleaner, more energy‐efficient, quieter, and safer cars, motorcycles, buses, and trucks. Mitigating the many social and environmental impacts of rising motorization is obviously important for the future well‐being of Chinese and Indian cities. It is also crucial for the future of the rest of the world. Unless the problems of motorization in China and India can be effectively dealt with, the world faces sharp increases in greenhouse gases, accelerating climate change, and rapid depletion of a range of non‐renewable resources.