14 lives a year could be saved if roads were safe: PEC study

Road collapses and poor upkeep caused 55 deaths in 47 accidents from January to August 2025, which was up by 15 per cent, Gupta said as he mentioned findings from his study. He also mentioned pedestrians are 42 per cent of fatalities as per this data.

The professor also suggested better lighting as one of the immediate solutions to make roads safer.

“At least 14 lives a year will be saved, which is 25 per cent less of the actual number,” he said.

Fixing buses: smoother rides for all

Gupta also said that the Tricity’s 500 buses cover only 20 per cent of the routes, with just 11.24 per cent of travelers using them. He said these buses are overcrowded at peak hours with 120 per cent capacity and near-empty and off-peak (30-40% occupancy) buses struggle.

He said 100 diesel buses, which will be retired by November 2025 and do not have any replacements as of now, will become an issue for the commuters.

Offering a solution, the professor suggested that the Tricity Metro may link key areas, while apps and sensors balance bus loads.

He also gave insights on some case studies with one saying, Priya, a Panchkula student, skips buses due to crowding, but Metro or better schedules could win her back towards public transport.

According to the study, the CTU’s Rs 56-crore loss will be reduced by 20-30 per cent and commuters may save Rs 1,000-2,000 a year if public transport infrastructure improves. 

The professor also recommended seamless last-mile connectivity for adoption of public transport. The study found only 20 per cent of routes have e-rickshaws or bike-sharing, leaving commuters stranded. Blocked cycle paths too deter eco-friendly travel.

Another case study found that Anil, a Chandigarh shop owner, walks 15 minutes from bus stops and e rickshaws could change that.

This last mile connectivity will boost ridership by 15-20 per cent, adding 50,000-75,000 users per day, the study said.