Sustainable Transport and the Modernisation of Urban Transport in Delhi and Stockholm - Literature review Example

Marie Thynell, Dinesh Mohan, Geetam Tiwari. Critical Review of Sustainable Transport and the Modernisation of Urban Transport in Delhi and Stockholm.(Cities, 27, 2010. pp. 421-429). Your name Background The topic of sustainable transport has gained importance in the wake of increasing pollution of the urban environments and for political reasons also, as getting political leverage from such developmental works is a big opportunity for a ruling political party to cash on, later during elections. This seems to be truer in a democratic set up. The authors have taken the examples of such cities as Delhi and Stockholm for analysing the respective governments’ transport policies. As a read of the abstract shows, this writing is a comparison of the approach taken by the stakeholders in these two cities to control environment pollution from increasing traffic congestion. People of Stockholm are relatively proactive when they are charged to pay fees for using the roads because of their awareness over increasing degree of emissions. The same cannot be said to be true for the people of Delhi. Purpose of the Topic A topic becomes interesting when it is on a burning issue of interest to all stakeholders. Increasing degree of emissions in the air has reached threatening levels from the increasing vehicular traffic and emissions of gases, harmful for all human beings. When a comparison is made between such cities, which are not parallel in the matter of advancement, the topic becomes more interesting and relevant. Although Delhi is the capital city of India and one of the leading developed cities in the matter of infrastructure development, yet its comparison with Stockholm, the capital as well as the largest city of Sweden, is inclined to show gaps in transport policies, adopted by these two cities’ governments. The major theme of this topic, as acknowledged by the authors, is that more than planning and functioning of the sophistication in transport means, the politics of sustainable transport plays a decisive role on the urban planning of these two cities and to highlight the differences of major transport functions and operations in these two cities, although similarities also exist in both cities’ urban development projects. Introduction The introduction includes two tables at the outset. Both the tables analyse the data of the two cities on the parameters of population, area, population density, household size and gross per capita income. One thing that comes to sharp notice is the time period of the data that begins from the year 2003 although the article print year is 2010. When it comes to statistical comparison of data, in my view, data should not be older than five years for the writing of such articles. One gets a blurred view when Delhi is compared statistically with both the Stockholm County and the City of Stockholm in table 1, while table 2 includes only Stockholm County for a comparison of vehicular ownership. Things might have undergone drastically changed since the year 2002 in comparison to present times. Hence, I oppose the using of old data for deriving meaning from the figures. In the introduction, preference for such policies that suit the middle class from economic point-of-view is stressed upon for Delhi as well as for the city of Stockholm. One can understand highlighting the needs of middle class community in a capital city for their peoples’ transport needs, and formulate policies accordingly by their respective governments, as this assumption is more true in a developed city of Stockholm, but assuming that the middle class minority is in a dominating position in Delhi can be politically correct for policy formulation but genuinely, the respective policy makers are ignoring the transport needs of the majority population who are not economically well-off; this fact has been pointed out later that transport policies are biased towards the have-nots when pedestal path is getting narrow and cyclists find it difficult to ply amidst heavy traffic because their lanes have been taken over by fast plying vehicles. Nevertheless, the authors have rightly compared and contrasted the two cities in developing their transport systems differently. Stockholm policy makers have relatively much time at hand to develop and modernise their transport system but due to speedy economic advancement and urbanisation, Delhi is forced to go ahead quickly to match with the concurrent growth. Yet another argument of the authors has basis that capital cities worldwide are being given preference for linking them to the rest of the globally prominent cities through infrastructure development although at the cost of sacrificing national interests. At the end, the introduction section points towards the leading question of analysis that irrespective of the different growth trajectories, challenges and methods of meeting those challenges in both the cities, the issue of sustainability remains prominent for politicians to take responsible decisions although political systems of governance of both the cities do not match. Overall, the authors have introduced the topic very well to the readers. One feels inspired to read the whole article at once, as interest of the reader builds up to know how environmental issues are politically used to take benefit at the time of elections. Methodology Methodology section very cleverly approaches the leading question of the article: to highlight the role played by politicians in both the cities in impacting urban transport by analysing secondary sources, including official papers, statements, plans and their assessments. It points out what would not be discussed and what would be discussed. As per the perceptions of authors, the leading issues of sustainability are related to density of population, transportation mediums and accidents for attaining sustainability in transport systems of both the cities. Stockholm and Delhi in 2002 The next section, ‘Stockholm and Delhi in 2002’ follows a planned path of analysing the process of motorisation in both cities, first the background and then the transport initiatives. Again, data analysis of both the cities takes into consideration the figures of Stockholm County, making the comparison a bit complicated. The audience, in my view, would more appreciate if comparison is limited to two cities only. For example, the population density in Stockholm County is 34 times less than Delhi but comes to half of the density of population of Delhi when the city of Stockholm is compared to the city of Delhi. One is unable to comprehend what relevance has the Stockholm County if there is a comparison of figures between two cities. Delhi city has no such tag of a County but its area has been enlarged hugely by including the suburban adjoining area in its territory, calling it famously by the name of National Capital Region (NCR). From that point-of-view, it is expected of the authors to either do not include the stats from the Stockholm County at all for lack of relevance or include the relevant data from the NCR region of Delhi capital city. Otherwise, all figures related to average income in absolute terms and in terms of purchasing power parity, as shown in table2 are highly relevant for comparison purpose. All tables include the Stockholm County for comparison with Delhi city except table1. When it comes to proportional use of personal motor vehicles, data analysis is very pertinent, but when it is a question of providing clean air, safe roads and optimal access roads, it cannot be ensured through appropriate modal mix and reduced use of personal transport. This truth is revealed effectively in the analysis of data related to Delhi and Stockholm County transport mediums. Stockholm Next analysis point is on the City of Stockholm, which explains the history of Swedish regulations, starting since 1906 till 1992. Although the methodology section mentions very clearly that this paper would not present a chronological detail of historical procedures followed, but actually the authors have given a chronological account of the happenings at the national level in Sweden, including the Automobile Ordinance in 1906, mass motorisation in the 1930s, although later by the 1950s the relation becomes more political, linking the prevalent trend in favour of motorisation in the context of making Sweden a welfare state. It mentions the opposition of the motorisation by the selected communist view-point followers. The 1956 electoral mandate by all political parties was favoured for issues that cleared the path for policy formation, linking the transport system by fortifying the basis of democratisation in the country. It is quite amazing to note how political parties associated themselves on the issue of policy formation on transport system as an initiative that would strengthen the democratisation process as well in Sweden. Discussion on Sweden’s automobile industry also includes opposing viewpoint of the negative repercussions of encouraging industry to grow seamlessly. For this, the authors quote an interview of the then Swedish Prime Minister, Mr. Carl Bildt, at the UNCED Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Environment was quite positive that technical innovations would reduce the issues related with car use worldwide. One cannot ignore that at the same time, the Prime Minister did not recommend the same for the Chinese economy. Congestion Tax Wider coverage is given to the introduction of congestion tax, telling that although an agreement was reached to use tax funds for creating infrastructure by the Conservative party but the government run by social democrats found it politically unfavourable to go ahead with its implementation. Finally, in August 2007, the congestion tax was levied for commuting in and out of the Stockholm City Centre on weekdays (Monday–Friday) between 6:30 and 18:29. The authors inform about the details of the pilot test run before the congestion tax, which was quite favourable, promising good results. Later, this was a proven fact, as it succeeded in meeting the aim of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Road users’ response, including that of cyclists and other stakeholders is included to prove that congestion tax worked wonders. Coming back to the lead topic of political leverage, it details out how the local social democrats changed their minds, taking a U-turn on non-implementation of congestion tax, after feeling the pulse of the people at local level that congestion tax should be levied. Another important revelation in the context of using the funds emerged that business class of any country has the influence to change decisions of political parties, as has happened in this case as well. Delhi Delhi’s history of population growth to match the transport feasibility efforts is similar to the history of Stockholm, coving a time since 1951. It offers a brief of the efforts made to ease the situation by taking certain planning measures. It discusses the Master Plan for Delhi 2021. Later, planning to promote automobile industry is aimed to give more focus on industrial development and employment generation. The launching of the Metro train to reduce traffic congestion is given wider coverage to be followed by the introduction of Bus Rapid Transport (BRT). It comes out that policy level initiatives to reduce traffic congestion were no less attempted than in Stockholm. Resources of the related organisations were used to develop an effective road traffic control plan in 1997. The three phase of BRT are discussed in detail, telling how a change in government thwarted the efforts of channelling cycle and bus traffic. The second phase politically confirmed the go-ahead signal for BRT corridors in Delhi in 2002. The details of the third phase tell a story of administrative, political and bureaucratic hurdles. The final phase saw objections from the police department. Next, it was the Environmental Pollution and Control Authority of Delhi (EPCA), demanding clarifications over pollution control. The process of finalisation and implementation of BRT proved too complicated. Accidents on the BRT corridor forced media to publish negative reviews. The last leg of the discussion on BRT stresses that hurdles and compromises were made to appease other stakeholders and there was no political will power left to pursue and make it a success, as other options, such as monorail, metro train and light rail transit were being explored and encouraged. Conclusion Overall, the authors provide a befitting end to the discussion, estimating future political path for Delhi to be different from Stockholm. The discussion rightly hints at the importance of solution finding for cities desiring a world class status on the global map, but in Delhi, it seems to happen at the cost of freedom of the common man taken away to cater to affluent class needs. Only sustainability awareness can produce positive results for using such pollution free means as cycles. The writing concludes by stressing on the fact that middle class in both cities play a major role in policy changes and their implementation. Political realities are beautifully and truthfully described both in Delhi and Stockholm. Sufficient information is passed through the writing for developing cities like Delhi to copy various sustainable living practices prevalent in cities like Stockholm by using such sustainable policies that satisfy the needs of various social, ecological and other critical stakeholders. Very intelligently, learning lessons are given to the political class in Delhi to perform before the next election arrives. The difference of media roles in both the cities is highlighted. For example, the projects get delayed and postponed indefinitely in Delhi due to media interference but this situation does not deteriorate beyond limit in Stockholm. The authors have captured the difference of mentalities of the people of both the cities. People of Delhi can learn many lessons from the transport modernisation experience of the Stockholm. The end result is variation between what politicians want to initiate through their sustainability efforts and what is lost in-between. Reference Thynell, M., Mohan, D., & Tiwari G., 2010. Critical review of sustainable transport and the modernisation of urban transport in Delhi and Stockholm. Cities, 27, pp. 421-429. Elsevier. Read More