Delhi Forms Task Force To Draft Integrated Transport Authority Law
The government of Delhi has initiated a major institutional reform in urban mobility by constituting a task force to draft the Delhi Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (DUMTA) Bill, aimed at creating a single coordinating body for the capital’s complex transport network.
The proposed authority seeks to address long-standing challenges arising from the fragmentation of transport governance in the national capital. At present, multiple agencies independently manage different components of the city’s mobility ecosystem, including metro rail, buses, roads, traffic management and regional rail connectivity. The absence of unified planning has often resulted in overlapping routes, operational inefficiencies and gaps in last-mile connectivity. Officials say the new authority will bring together key institutions involved in urban mobility, including the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi Transport Corporation, Delhi Development Authority, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Delhi Police. Coordination with regional transport agencies such as the National Capital Region Transport Corporation and Indian Railways will also form part of the framework.
The high-level task force responsible for drafting the legislation will be chaired by the Chief Secretary of Delhi and will include senior officials from the transport, urban development, finance and planning departments. The panel has been tasked with preparing the draft bill following consultations with relevant stakeholders and government agencies. Urban mobility experts have long argued that the absence of a unified authority has hindered the development of a seamless public transport system in the capital. While Delhi Metro has transformed mass transit in the city, bus services, regional rail systems and feeder connectivity often operate without coordinated scheduling or integrated ticketing systems.
The proposed authority is expected to create a comprehensive framework to integrate various modes of transport, including metro rail, bus networks, regional rapid transit systems and feeder services. This would enable better route planning, synchronised operations and unified fare structures across the capital’s transport ecosystem. Another key objective of the initiative is to encourage a shift toward public transportation as a way to address congestion and environmental concerns. With the population of Delhi continuing to grow and vehicle ownership rising steadily, policymakers are seeking ways to reduce traffic congestion and improve urban mobility efficiency.
The DUMTA framework is also expected to support the creation of a dedicated urban transport fund to finance infrastructure upgrades, multimodal integration projects and sustainable mobility initiatives. Such funding mechanisms are often seen as essential for long-term urban transport planning in large metropolitan regions. If implemented effectively, the new authority could significantly reshape the way mobility infrastructure is planned and managed across Delhi and its surrounding regions. By creating a unified planning body, the government hopes to streamline decision-making and develop a more integrated transport system capable of meeting the demands of one of the world’s largest urban populations.
For Delhi’s rapidly expanding metropolitan landscape, the success of the proposed authority may determine how effectively the city transitions toward a coordinated, multimodal and sustainable transport future.
