New Delhi, Feb 6 (NationPress) In a significant initiative designed to reshape urban transportation in the national capital, the Delhi government, led by Rekha Gupta, has assembled a task force to formulate a Bill for the establishment of the Delhi Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (DUMTA), along with a dedicated Delhi Urban Transport Fund (DUTF).

The proposed legislation aims to rationalize, integrate, and coordinate the currently fragmented transport ecosystem in Delhi under a singular, coherent planning and governance framework, as stated by Chief Minister Gupta's office.

This development represents a crucial step in the state government's ambition to create a modern, efficient, people-centric, and environmentally sustainable transport system for the national capital.

Chief Minister Gupta noted, "The proposed DUMTA will foster cohesion across Delhi's urban mobility system. By consolidating all modes of transport including metro, buses, regional rail, and feeder services within a unified planning jurisdiction, we will guarantee that mobility solutions are integrated, efficient, and focused on citizens."

The Bill will be drafted by a high-level task force chaired by Chief Secretary Rajeev Verma, according to the released statement.

Gupta mentioned that the proposed DUMTA will be pivotal in decongesting Delhi's roads by enhancing public transport, improving last-mile connectivity, and promoting a transition away from private vehicles.

"This initiative is essential to the state government's long-term strategy to combat air pollution, one of the most urgent challenges facing the national capital," she added.

"Establishing DUMTA is among the most vital long-term measures to reduce reliance on private vehicles and provide clean, efficient mobility for all residents of Delhi," Gupta stated further.

Vehicular emissions are a leading source of pollution, and developing a reliable, well-connected public transport network is crucial for achieving sustainable environmental results, as asserted by Chief Minister Gupta.

"Our government is pursuing short, medium, and long-term strategies to tackle pollution, an issue that has intensified over the years due to previous governments' failure to implement structural reforms," she remarked.

The National Urban Transport Policy envisions the creation of a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) in major cities to facilitate strategic planning and coordinated execution of integrated urban transport systems.

The growing population, pollution, road pressure, and the heightened demand for organized public transport systems in the Delhi-National Capital Region necessitate the establishment of a DUMTA.

In the context of Delhi, the anticipated DUMTA is expected to oversee strategic mobility planning, integrate transport modes including metro, buses, regional rail, and other last-mile services, ensure inter-agency coordination, mitigate overlapping jurisdictions, and enhance overall efficiency in public transport delivery.