National Transport Development Policy Committee (NTDPC)

The National Transport Development Policy Committee (NTDPC) was established by the Government of India in 2010 under the Planning Commission to formulate a comprehensive and long-term transport policy framework for the country. The Committee was mandated to examine all modes of transport—road, rail, air, water, and urban transport—and to recommend strategies for developing an integrated, efficient, and sustainable transport system in line with India’s economic and social development goals up to the year 2031–32.

Background and Rationale

By the late 2000s, India’s rapid economic growth and urbanisation had placed tremendous pressure on its transport infrastructure. The country’s transport system, though diverse, suffered from fragmented planning, capacity constraints, and lack of intermodal coordination. Roads carried an overwhelming share of freight and passenger traffic, leading to congestion, higher logistics costs, and environmental degradation.
Recognising the urgent need for a holistic and forward-looking transport policy, the Government of India constituted the National Transport Development Policy Committee (NTDPC) in October 2010, chaired by Dr Rakesh Mohan, former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. The committee brought together experts from various transport sectors, economists, environmentalists, and policy makers to develop a coherent framework for future transport development.
The Planning Commission served as the nodal agency for the Committee’s functioning, and its final report was submitted in 2013–14.

Objectives of the Committee

The NTDPC was tasked with preparing a comprehensive policy document aimed at guiding the transport sector’s growth in the medium and long term. Its key objectives were:

• To formulate a long-term transport policy and strategy for India up to 2032.
• To develop an integrated, multi-modal transport system that ensures seamless connectivity across modes.
• To recommend institutional reforms for better coordination and governance of the transport sector.
• To suggest strategies for reducing logistics costs and improving transport efficiency.
• To promote sustainable and environmentally responsible transport solutions.
• To enhance safety, affordability, and accessibility for all segments of society.

Composition and Structure

The Committee was chaired by Dr Rakesh Mohan and comprised senior officials, transport experts, and representatives from central ministries, public sector undertakings, and research organisations. The membership included Secretaries from the Ministries of Road Transport and Highways, Railways, Shipping, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, and Finance, along with representatives from state governments, industry bodies, and academic institutions.
A Technical Secretariat was established within the Planning Commission to assist the Committee in data collection, analysis, and policy formulation. The NTDPC also engaged several working groups focusing on specific areas such as freight transport, urban mobility, infrastructure finance, energy and environment, and institutional reforms.

Approach and Methodology

The NTDPC adopted a comprehensive, evidence-based, and cross-sectoral approach to transport planning. It conducted extensive research, stakeholder consultations, and sectoral studies covering:

• Traffic projections for passenger and freight demand up to 2032.
• Infrastructure and investment requirements across all modes of transport.
• Policy and institutional bottlenecks.
• International best practices in transport planning, regulation, and financing.

The Committee’s analysis was underpinned by a vision of developing a modern, safe, and energy-efficient transport system that would serve as the backbone of India’s inclusive growth strategy.

Key Recommendations

The NTDPC’s report, titled “India Transport Report: Moving India to 2032”, laid out a comprehensive set of recommendations spanning policy, institutional, and investment domains. Some of the major recommendations included:

1. Integrated Transport Planning

• Establishment of a Unified National Transport Policy and Planning Framework to ensure intermodal coordination.
• Creation of a National Transport Policy Body (NTPB) to guide strategic transport planning across all modes.
• Development of a National Transport Data and Information Centre for data-driven decision-making.

2. Modal Balance and Efficiency

• Rationalisation of the modal share of freight by reducing the burden on roads and shifting more freight traffic to railways and inland waterways.
• Encouragement of multi-modal logistics parks and freight corridors for seamless goods movement.
• Promotion of public transport and non-motorised transport (NMT) in urban areas to reduce congestion and pollution.

3. Infrastructure Investment

• Substantial investment in transport infrastructure, estimated at around ₹45–50 trillion up to 2032.
• Adoption of Public–Private Partnership (PPP) models for financing and project delivery.
• Prioritisation of maintenance and modernisation over mere capacity expansion.

4. Institutional Reforms

• Establishment of an independent regulatory authority for each major transport mode to ensure transparency and efficiency.
• Greater decentralisation of transport planning to states and urban local bodies.
• Capacity building in planning, engineering, and project management at national and state levels.

5. Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

• Encouragement of low-carbon and fuel-efficient transport technologies.
• Gradual transition to electric and alternative-fuel vehicles.
• Integration of transport planning with land use and environmental policies to promote sustainable urban development.

6. Safety and Accessibility

• Adoption of comprehensive road safety laws and enforcement mechanisms.
• Development of safe pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
• Ensuring universal accessibility in public transport for the elderly and differently abled.

Institutional and Policy Impact

The NTDPC’s report became a foundational document guiding India’s transport policy in the following decade. Several of its recommendations influenced later policy initiatives, such as:

• The establishment of the National Transport Policy Development Committee under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
• The development of Bharatmala Pariyojana and Sagarmala Programme, promoting integrated road and port connectivity.
• The Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) project under Indian Railways.
• Expansion of inland waterways under the National Waterways Act, 2016.
• Formulation of the National Logistics Policy (2022) and the Gati Shakti Master Plan (2021), both of which drew heavily on the NTDPC’s principles of multimodal integration and coordinated planning.

Challenges Highlighted

The Committee identified several key challenges that needed urgent attention:

• High logistics costs, accounting for nearly 13–14% of GDP.
• Inadequate integration between rail, road, air, and waterways.
• Fragmented governance, with over ten central ministries managing transport subsectors independently.
• Underinvestment in maintenance, leading to poor infrastructure quality.
• Environmental degradation due to rising vehicular emissions and fuel consumption.