The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, February 6, 2026 : In a decisive step towards transforming urban mobility in the national capital, the Delhi government under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has initiated the drafting of a comprehensive Bill to establish the Delhi Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (DUMTA) along with a dedicated Delhi Urban Transport Fund (DUTF).
The proposed legislation aims to bring Delhi’s fragmented transport system under a single, integrated planning and governance framework, marking a significant institutional reform in the city’s approach to mobility, congestion management and pollution control.
To fast-track the process, the Chief Minister has constituted a high-level task force chaired by the Chief Secretary, directing it to prepare and submit the draft Bill at the earliest. The move reflects the government’s urgency in addressing Delhi’s mounting transport challenges arising from rapid urbanisation, population growth and increasing vehicular density.
“We are taking concrete steps to solve pollution and congestion in the national capital. Establishing DUMTA is one of the most important long-term interventions to strengthen public transport and reduce dependence on private vehicles,” Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said.
The task force includes senior officials from key departments such as transport, urban development, finance, planning, public works and Delhi Police. Representatives from major transport and civic bodies—including the Delhi Development Authority, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi Transport Corporation, National Capital Region Transport Corporation and Indian Railways—are also part of the panel. The Chief Minister has suggested co-opting renowned urban transport experts to ensure that global best practices are aligned with Delhi’s local realities.
Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, the Chief Minister noted that Delhi’s transport agencies have historically operated in silos, resulting in overlapping jurisdictions, inefficient planning and sub-optimal service delivery.
“DUMTA will bring cohesion to Delhi’s entire urban mobility system. By placing metro, buses, regional rail, railways and feeder services within a single planning jurisdiction, we will ensure integrated, efficient and citizen-focused mobility solutions,” she said.
The proposed authority is expected to play a key role in decongesting Delhi’s roads by improving public transport integration, strengthening last-mile connectivity and enabling seamless multimodal travel. These measures are central to the government’s broader strategy to curb vehicular emissions, a major contributor to Delhi’s air pollution.
The initiative aligns with the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP), 2006, which envisaged the creation of Unified Metropolitan Transport Authorities in large cities to enable coordinated planning and implementation of integrated transport systems. The increasing transport demand across Delhi and the NCR has reinforced the need for such a unified institutional mechanism.
Once established, DUMTA is expected to oversee strategic mobility planning, coordinate between multiple agencies, integrate transport modes, rationalise fare structures and facilitate unified ticketing systems. The accompanying Delhi Urban Transport Fund is envisioned as a dedicated financing mechanism to support long-term, sustainable urban transport investments.
As per the mandate, the task force will finalise the institutional structure of DUMTA, undertake stakeholder consultations, assist in drafting and enactment of the Bill, and support operationalisation by defining the authority’s vision, mission and goals.
The move represents one of the most significant shifts in Delhi’s urban transport governance in recent years. With the task force expected to submit its recommendations soon, the formal legislative process to establish DUMTA and DUTF is set to begin, potentially reshaping how mobility is planned, funded and delivered in the national capital.
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