**8. Conclusions**

India is going to experience a multifold rise in the demand for urban transport in the coming years. A strategic approach is required to ensure that the growth momentum is maintained without adversely impacting the quality of environment to urban dwellers. A holistic planning mechanism consolidating urban transport and land use planning is essential for Indian cities, especially metropolitan cities, so that synergies between urban form and functions can be channelized. This will further augment the productivity and efficiency of cities. The present challenges of congestion, pollution, accidents, sprawl etc. can be mitigated by investing in public modes of transport and optimizing multimodal mobility patterns. Urban transport influences the spatial organization of cities. So, urban transport must be approached in a holistic manner integrating pricing, financing regulation and comprehensive land use.

This chapter suggests that TOD is a necessity in India in view of the urbanization, metropolitanization and motorization trends in cities, the numbers and densities therein, income distribution patterns and considerations of sustainability. The

country cannot afford auto-centric, sprawling, energy-intensive and an expensive process of urbanization. India needs to move to a public-transportation led, transitoriented, mixed use, and value capture financing-focused strategy of planned urban development with public transportation investment and transport-land use integration as the key drivers. This also calls for a robust financing strategy. Successful TOD policy requires a robust and integrated framework bestowed with financial independence, responsiveness and competence. TOD policy can be successful by ensuring transparency and accountability towards the users while augmenting the accessibility of Indian cities.
