**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to an unstarred question (No. 3177) in Lok Sabha on December 18, 2025. The question was regarding the establishment of a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) for Tiruchirappalli, specifically about its operational status, funding, coordination, timeline, and potential assistance from the government. The answer clarifies that urban transport is a state subject and explains the role of the MoHUA in providing policy frameworks.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Urban Transport as a State Subject:**
* Urban transport is considered an integral part of urban development, falling under the purview of state governments.
* Initiatives for setting up UMTAs are the responsibility of respective cities, states, and union territories.
* **MoHUA's Role:**
* MoHUA is the central ministry for urban transport matters.
* MoHUA notified the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP 2006) and circulates guiding policy framework documents. This includes a draft bill for UMTAs.
* The aim is for systematic planning and implementation of urban transport in a sustainable manner.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments/Cities/UTs**
* **Impact:** The onus is on the respective State Governments, Cities and UTs to develop and implement urban transport initiatives such as setting up UMTAs.
* **Action Required:** Need to take the lead in establishing and executing UMTAs, utilizing available resources and MoHUA's framework.
**MoHUA**
* **Impact:** Has responsibility for providing policy guidance and framework for urban transport.
* **Action Required:** Continue providing policy frameworks and support to state governments for sustainable urban transport planning and implementation.
**Citizens of Tiruchirappalli**
* **Impact:** The setting up of UMTA has remained non-functional for the last several years and has implications for urban mobility.
* **Action Required:** No direct action required but potentially benefit from improved urban mobility and integration of transport modes if the UMTA framework is operationalized.
Key Entities Referenced
National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP): A national policy document notified by MoHUA, providing a framework for urban transport.
Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA): A proposed authority for Tiruchirappalli, aimed at improving urban mobility and transport integration.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: The central ministry responsible for urban transport matters in India.
Tiruchirappalli: A city in Tamil Nadu, the location for the proposed UMTA.
Tamil Nadu: The state that UMTA initiatives may impact.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3177
TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 18, 2025
UNIFIED METROPOLITAN TRANSPORT AUTHORITY FOR
TIRUCHIRAPPALLI
NO.3177. SHRI DURAI VAIKO:
Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the proposal to establish a
Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) for Tiruchirappalli
selected under the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) has
remained non-functional for the last several years and if so, the
details thereof;
(b) whether any funds, operational guidelines or legislative support have
been provided to the State Government of Tamil Nadu to facilitate the
setting up of UMTA for Tiruchirappalli and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Union Government has taken steps to coordinate with the
State Government and local authorities to revive and operationalise
the UMTA framework for Tiruchirappalli;
(d) if so, the current status of the proposal and the expected timeline for
its implementation; and
(e) whether the Government would consider providing technical and
financial assistance to expedite the formation of UMTA for
Tiruchirappalli in view of its importance in improving urban mobility
and integration of various transport modes and if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)
(a) to (e): Urban Transport is an integral part of Urban Development, which
is a State subject. As such, initiatives for setting up of Unified Metropolitan
Transport Authority (UMTA), its execution etc., are taken by the respective
cities/States/UTs. MoHUA, being the central line Ministry for urban transport
matters, have notified National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP 2006) and
circulated various guiding policy framework documents including draft bill
for Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) for systematic planning
& implementation of urban transport in sustainable manner.
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