Delhi Moves To Create Unified Transport Authority

13 Feb 2026 CW Team

Officials said the move responds to longstanding fragmentation, overlapping jurisdictions and weak coordination among existing agencies that have hampered planning and service delivery. The authority is expected to integrate all modes including metro, buses, regional rail and feeder services within a unified planning framework to enable coordinated operations and citizen-centric mobility solutions. The government views the measure as central to a long-term strategy to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution by strengthening public transport and improving last-mile connectivity, thereby encouraging modal shift away from private vehicles.

The proposal aligns with the National Urban Transport Policy 2006, which recommends unified metropolitan transport authorities for all million-plus cities to facilitate integrated planning, unified ticketing and coordinated implementation of projects. Once established, DUMTA would be tasked with overseeing implementation of a comprehensive mobility plan prepared by the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre. The authority is also expected to prepare a transport investment programme, manage the Delhi Urban Transport Fund and coordinate interventions among agencies across the Delhi National Capital Region. Promoting multimodal integration and rational fare structures will form part of its mandate.

The task force will finalise the authority's structure, conduct stakeholder consultations and assist in enacting the Bill. Officials said drafting will be pursued at the earliest to enable timely implementation. The reforms are intended to improve coordination, streamline investment and enhance last-mile connectivity.

The Delhi government has initiated drafting of a law to establish the Delhi Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority and a dedicated Delhi Urban Transport Fund to unify the Capital's transport governance. A high-level task force chaired by the Chief Secretary has been constituted to prepare the draft Bill promptly and it includes senior officials from key departments and representatives of major agencies such as the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and the Delhi Transport Corporation. The Chief Minister has proposed co-opting urban transport experts to incorporate global best practices. Officials said the move responds to longstanding fragmentation, overlapping jurisdictions and weak coordination among existing agencies that have hampered planning and service delivery. The authority is expected to integrate all modes including metro, buses, regional rail and feeder services within a unified planning framework to enable coordinated operations and citizen-centric mobility solutions. The government views the measure as central to a long-term strategy to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution by strengthening public transport and improving last-mile connectivity, thereby encouraging modal shift away from private vehicles. The proposal aligns with the National Urban Transport Policy 2006, which recommends unified metropolitan transport authorities for all million-plus cities to facilitate integrated planning, unified ticketing and coordinated implementation of projects. Once established, DUMTA would be tasked with overseeing implementation of a comprehensive mobility plan prepared by the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre. The authority is also expected to prepare a transport investment programme, manage the Delhi Urban Transport Fund and coordinate interventions among agencies across the Delhi National Capital Region. Promoting multimodal integration and rational fare structures will form part of its mandate. The task force will finalise the authority's structure, conduct stakeholder consultations and assist in enacting the Bill. Officials said drafting will be pursued at the earliest to enable timely implementation. The reforms are intended to improve coordination, streamline investment and enhance last-mile connectivity.

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