Tejasvi Surya Calls for National Urban Transport Cadre, Flags Planning Crisis in Indian Cities
New Delhi/Bengaluru: Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has urged the Union Government to create a dedicated All India Urban Transport Cadre, citing an urgent need for structured urban mobility solutions across Indian cities. Raising the issue under Rule 377 in the Lok Sabha, the BJP MP said the country’s cities are suffering from traffic congestion, poor mobility systems, and lack of expert planning due to a severe shortage of qualified urban transport professionals.
“India is urbanising rapidly, but without scientific planning and trained personnel, our cities are heading toward collapse. Urban transport remains one of the most underdeveloped and neglected sectors of governance,” Surya said.
Citing data from NITI Aayog, Surya pointed out that while over 12,000 urban planning roles are recommended nationwide, only 4,000 are sanctioned, and nearly half remain vacant. Most urban local bodies (ULBs), he said, are left to make ad hoc mobility decisions without expert inputs, often relying on general administrators or traffic police.
Surya proposed the creation of a new All India Service cadre for Urban Transport Management, comparable to the IAS or IPS, with a mandate to build professional capacity and ensure long-term urban planning. He recommended that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) be appointed as the nodal authority to replace fragmented guidelines currently issued by agencies like the Indian Roads Congress.
“India needs integrated, scientific, and forward-looking urban transport planning. It’s not just about traffic jams—it’s about productivity, livability, and sustainability in the long run,” he said.
Despite preparing a formal intervention, Surya expressed regret that continued Opposition-led disruptions in Parliament had prevented him from voicing the issue on the floor. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he said:
“When Parliament doesn’t function, it is the citizen who pays the price. I’ve been trying to raise this under Zero Hour and Rule 377. Matters of long-term national interest are being silenced.”
He confirmed that he has formally submitted his statement to the Lok Sabha Secretariat to ensure the matter is placed on record.
Over the last several days, I have been consistently attempting to raise, both during Zero Hour and under Rule 377, the critical issue of the need to establish a dedicated Urban Transport Management Cadre in our cities – to scientifically plan and implement urban mobility and… pic.twitter.com/umqBw5pTyZ
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) July 24, 2025
Surya further proposed strengthening institutional planning capacity within ULBs through mandatory recruitment of planners, GIS experts, and engineers, alongside reforms in planning qualifications and service rules.
With four Indian cities among the world’s worst for traffic congestion, Surya said the time for institutional reform is now.
“If India wants to remain competitive and its cities livable, we must professionalise urban mobility with a dedicated cadre that brings autonomy, capacity, and accountability to the system,” he added.
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