Andhra Pradesh: Motor vehicles register 100% growth in 7 years

Vijayawada: Motor vehicles have registered a 100 percent increase in Andhra Pradesh in seven years. Vehicles increased from 70 lakh in 2014 to 1.46 crore in 2021. Motorcycles constituted 78% of the total fleet in 2014. The share of the two-wheelers went past 89% in 2021. Of these 1.46 crore vehicles, 1.29 crore are non-commercial vehicles used for personal purposes. Experts said population growth, wealth, less travel time, comfort, better access to financing, lack of public transportation in desirable routes, etc. have led to the spurt in personal vehicles.

This shift has caused a significant strain on the transportation network and infrastructure leading to traffic congestion and vehicular emissions, particularly in the urban centers. Deputy Transport Commissioner (Vizag), GC Raja Ratnam said the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a steep increase in the use of personal vehicles (two-wheelers) for commuting as many were afraid to travel in the public transport.

Road infrastructure has remained majorly the same in the towns and cities of Andhra Pradesh. However, traffic snarls have become inescapable. Even though the automobile industry is considered one of the key economic growth engines, the increased use of personal vehicles is adding to noxious emissions. The strengthening of public transport plays a key role in the further development of the city. However, poor last-mile connectivity, a limited fleet of city buses of APSRTC, and the absence of local trains and Metro rail are pushing more and more people to opt for private vehicles preferably bikes and cars to reach their destinations, experts added.

Former economics professor of Andhra University, Dr. M Prasada Rao said the infrastructure spending over the years has stimulated economic activity in the country. "Owning a personal vehicle is viewed as access to this growth story, liberation, and economic prosperity. The increased personal mobility has completely changed the way society operated and worked decades ago. The improvement in personal finances and affordability has also expedited the adoption of personal vehicles. Urbanization and vehicular ownership always go hand-in-hand," said Dr. Rao.

Infographics:

Vehicular growth over the years:

-March 2013: 62.8 lakh

-March 2014: 70.02 lakh

-March 2015: 78.82 lakh

-December 2016: 95.36 lakh

-November 2020: 1.38 crore

-December 2021: 1.46 crore