In this episode, we dive into the world of Shared Intermediate Public Transport (IPT), the shared autos, taxis, and vikrams that are the de facto public transport in small and medium Indian cities. Despite their essential role in providing transportation services, the mainstream policy framework fails to adequately support the operational model of shared IPT.

We discuss the legal conflict created by colonial-era laws, the ingenious vernacular governance systems developed by operators, and the urgent reforms needed to formally recognize and integrate this vital sector, especially in the face of the Electric Vehicle transition.

Key Discussion Points

• Lack of acknowledgement that shared IPT constitutes the de facto public transport network in smaller Indian cities, in formal transport planning documents

• Misclassification of shared IPT as contract carriage, stemming from the colonial-era Motor Vehicles Act

• IPT operations and systems for route control, staging, and pricing

• Future reforms including formal recognition and integration of existing governance structures into municipal planning

• Promotion of Electric Vehicles (EVs) without clear operational guidelines and its governance risks

• Revision of the Model Motor Vehicles Act
  

Speaker

Dr Gaurav Mittal, Researcher in Mobility Governance, Transport Studies Unit, University of Oxford

Host

Chaithra Navada, Research Associate (Urban), CPPR

Tune in to delve into the evolving governance of the Shared IPT sector in Indian cities.