Gujarat outperforms Delhi and Maharashtra in terms of overall transport accessibility, even though only 45.2% of its citizens have access to high-capacity public transport, such as metro rail, trains, and ferries, within a one-kilometre radius of their homes, a recent report by Union Government revealed.
When all public transport (buses, taxis, and autorickshaws) within 500 meters of homes is considered, Gujarat’s accessibility rate increases to 97.6%, surpassing Delhi (95.8%) and Maharashtra (93.4%), according to the Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey 2022–23, which was published in October by the National Sample Survey Office.
However, the report’s conclusion that 45.2% of the state’s population has access to high-capacity public transport raises doubts among traffic management specialists. According to a state traffic consultative council member, the metro rail has yet to start in other cities in the state and only runs in two areas of Ahmedabad.
“Even though the Ahmedabad metro rail has been in service for a long time, hardly many people use it daily. Additionally, he noted that the railway stations in Kalupur, Maninagar, and Sabarmati are in different locations. He said that although the metro rail authorities extended their service hours from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. during Navratri, roughly 2,000 people in the city take the metro rail system daily.
Speaking about the more significant proportion of people who have access to public transport options like buses, taxis, and autorickshaws, the expert said, “People are hesitant to walk short distances, and hence they opt for cabs or motorcycles.”
According to a Regional Transport Office officer, approximately one lakh shuttle autorickshaws operate in Ahmedabad alone.
“People may easily find these rickshaws on the road outside their homes, and they operate in practically every part of the city. According to the officer, this is one of the reasons why a significant portion of Gujarat’s population has access to autorickshaw services within 500 meters of their homes.
Availability of public transit
Just 45.2% of Gujarat’s population has access to high-capacity public transit, including ferries, trains, metro rail, etc. In comparison, 96.3% of people in rural Gujarat have access to pucca roads within two kilometres of their homes, and 97.6% of people have access to public transportation within 500 meters of their homes when buses, autorickshaws and taxis are taken into account.
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