Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, the Rajasthan government continues to introduce innovative and citizen-centric reforms for the state’s overall development. In a major step toward addressing urban congestion, pollution, unplanned land use, and economic losses, the Rajasthan Cabinet has approved the implementation of a comprehensive Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Policy.
The government will soon issue a formal notification to implement the TOD policy across all urban local bodies in the state.
What is TOD and Why It Matters
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is a modern urban planning model that focuses on developing compact, mixed-use and high-density zones around public transport stations. The policy promotes pedestrian-friendly and non-motorised transport (NMT), making cities more accessible, environmentally sustainable and liveable.
With Rajasthan’s cities witnessing rapidly increasing pollution, traffic congestion and unplanned urban sprawl, the need for a state-level TOD policy has become critical. The policy aims to integrate land use and transport planning, bringing residences and employment centres closer to public transport corridors for seamless short-distance mobility.
Boost to Metro, RRTS and Urban Infrastructure
Through TOD, the state will be able to derive maximum benefits from large transport investments such as Metro Rail and RRTS projects. The policy will:
Enable redevelopment of old residential areas
Create new housing options
Promote economic hubs
Increase land value at key transit nodes
It will also help achieve long-term reduction in traffic pressure, higher public transport ridership, and sustained reduction in pollution levels.
