How digital payments can be a catalyst for smart mobility solutions in India

About 34% of India’s population lives in urban areas, according to a 2017 World Bank estimate and if this trend continues, the UN predicts that the country’s urban population will be more than the rural population by the end of 2050. This is largely on the back of industrial growth and labour migration from villages, continuing the trend of cities being engines of economic growth and opportunity.

Given this, the launch of the 100 Smart Cities Mission, which relies heavily on a strong transportation infrastructure enabled by a stronger technology framework, seems to be a step in the right direction. As cities continue to expand with the influx of people from smaller towns and rural areas, more people will live further away from the business districts and have to travel to work, putting a burden on the transport infrastructure and causing traffic congestions, overcrowding, and increase in travel time.