Nikhil Ali, Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), authored an opinion article in Navbharat Times examining why India’s bus transport sector continues to operate under a nationalised model despite market-oriented reforms in other sectors.

The article argues that while State Transport Undertakings (STUs) were created to ensure universal access, mounting financial losses, ageing fleets, and limited service expansion call for a fresh policy approach. It advocates for greater private participation within a strong regulatory framework, emphasising that the government’s role should be to ensure affordable, safe, and accessible public transport rather than remain its sole operator.

The opinion article was published in Navbharat Times on July 16, 2026.