Rekha Gupta-led govt drafts Bill to overhaul Delhi’s transport system

In a bid to overhaul urban mobility in the national capital, the Delhi government under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has begun work on a comprehensive Bill to set up the Delhi Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (DUMTA) along with a dedicated Delhi Urban Transport Fund (DUTF).

The proposed law aims to bring Delhi’s fragmented transport system under a single, integrated planning and governance framework. According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, the initiative marks an important step towards building a modern, efficient, people-friendly and environmentally sustainable transport network for the Capital.

High-level task force to draft Bill

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To ensure expeditious drafting of the proposed law, the chief minister has constituted a high-level task force under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Rajeev Verma. The task force has been mandated to prepare and submit the draft Bill at the earliest, reflecting the government’s sense of urgency and commitment to reform.

The panel brings together senior officials from key departments including transport, urban development, finance, planning, public works and Delhi Police. It also includes representatives from major civic and transport agencies such as the Delhi Development Authority, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi Transport Corporation, National Capital Region Transport Corporation and Indian Railways.

Renowned urban transport experts may also be co-opted to incorporate global best practices.

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End to silo-based transport planning

Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, the CM noted that Delhi’s transport agencies have historically functioned in silos, with limited coordination in route planning, infrastructure development and service delivery.

“The proposed DUMTA will bring cohesion to Delhi's entire urban mobility system. By placing all modes of transport like metro, buses, regional rail, railways and feeder services, within a single planning jurisdiction, we will ensure that mobility solutions are integrated, efficient and citizen-focused,” Gupta said.

Focus on decongestion and last-mile connectivity

She said the proposed DUMTA will play a critical role in decongesting Delhi’s roads by strengthening public transport, improving last-mile connectivity and encouraging a shift away from private vehicles. “This is integral to the state government's long-term strategy to combat air pollution, one of the national capital's most pressing challenges,” the chief minister said.

“Establishing DUMTA is one of the most important long-term interventions to reduce dependence on private vehicles and provide clean, efficient mobility to every resident of Delhi,” she added. Vehicular emissions remain a major local source of pollution, and expanding a reliable, well-connected public transport network is central to achieving sustainable environmental outcomes, CM said.

“Our government is working on short, medium and long-term solutions to address pollution, an issue that worsened over the years due to lack of structural reforms by previous governments,” she added.

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Aligned with national transport policy

The National Urban Transport Policy envisages the creation of a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) in large cities to facilitate strategic planning and coordinated implementation of integrated urban transport systems. In Delhi’s case, the envisaged DUMTA is expected to oversee strategic mobility planning, integrate transport modes including Metro, buses, regional rail and feeder services, ensure coordination among agencies, curb overlapping jurisdictions and improve overall efficiency in public transport delivery amid rising population, pollution and pressure on road infrastructure.