Institute of Legal and Management Studies

The Supreme Court has lauded the remarkable transformation of India's road transport network, observing that the country has made “sincere and serious attempts to revolutionise travel” and achieved a “quantum leap” in infrastructure development over the years.

It cannot be disputed that the nation has made substantial progress in road transport, the Court remarked.

While reflecting on the evolution of road transport, the Court noted that India has moved far beyond its “humble beginnings” and now boasts an intricate network of highways that connect even the remotest villages to nearby cities and towns, ensuring genuine “last-mile connectivity.”

“The highways and expressways being built are transforming India's transportation landscape and driving economic growth,” the Court observed, adding that expressways have facilitated faster movement of people and goods between distant locations, significantly reducing travel time.

The Bench highlighted that the surfaces of modern highways and expressways are “smoother than ever before” and that operators of stage carriage services are now providing comfort and convenience “comparable with services available abroad.” The Court further took note of the growing shift toward electric vehicles, stating that the switch to e-mobility has “facilitated sustainable transportation” and contributed to a modern, environmentally conscious travel ecosystem.

A key feature of this transformation, the Court said, is the integration of technology. “Smart transportation has been characterised by the integration of technology to enhance efficiency and safety. With continued innovation and investment, the road transport sector seems to have progressed to attain more efficiency, sustainability, and accessibility,” the judgment recorded.

Referring to the data available on State Road Transport Corporations (SRTCs), the Court remarked that several of them are “thriving” and have seen “impressive growth and adoption of technology.” The digitalisation of operations, it noted, has been a “game changer”,enabling online bookings, live tracking via mobile apps, and improved customer experience.

While acknowledging that older buses are still being used on certain routes, the Court appreciated that “modern-era vehicles such as e-buses have been introduced in some sectors.”

Concluding its remarks, the Court underscored that even as the nation continues to make substantial progress in the transport sector, “the interests of passengers and commuters ought to be of prime concern for the transport authorities.”

A bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice AG Masih made these remarks while deciding a dispute involving private transporters, UPSRTC and the MP SRTC. The Court held that private transporters cannot ply on an inter-state transport route which has been reserved for a State Road Transport Corporation.

While concluding the judgment, the Court made these parting remarks about India's road infrastructure.

"While considering evolution of road transport in India, one cannot miss the significant transformation that it has undergone over the years. Sincere and serious attempts to revolutionise travel on road by passengers and commuters are discernible. Leaving behind the humble beginnings, focus on infrastructure development has seen a quantum leap. India has developed, in this century, an intricate network of highways providing accessibility to nearby cities and towns from the remotest of villages, thereby establishing 'last-mile connectivity' . Expressways have been constructed to facilitate faster movement of people and goods between distant locations and thereby reduce travel time. These highways and expressways are transforming India's transportation landscape and driving economic growth, among others. What deserves special note is that the surface of these highways/expressways is smoother than ever before. With the introduction of modern vehicles, operators of stage carriage services have been providing comfort and convenience which are comparable with services available abroad. Switch to electric vehicles for both public and private use has facilitated sustainable transportation. A feature of smart transportation has been integration of technology to enhance efficiency and safety. In fine, with continued innovation and investment, the road transport sector seems to have progressed to attain more efficiency, sustainability and accessibility.

Data that is presently available on the websites of a number of State Road Transport Corporations do suggest that a couple of these corporations are thriving, with impressive growth and adoption of technology. Digitalisation has been a game changer. To adapt to the changing transportation landscape, leveraging technology to improve services and customer experience is the priority for these corporations. Bookings are now made on online platforms and live tracking is available on mobile apps. Measures have been taken to expand services and to streamline operations. Notwithstanding that in certain areas/routes old buses which are on the verge of being phased out are being plied, modern-era vehicles such as e-buses have been introduced in some sectors by the SRTCs.

None can possibly dispute that the nation having made substantial progress in the road transport sector, interests of passengers and commuters ought to be of prime concern for the transport authorities."

Cause Title: U.P. STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION THROUGH ITS CHIEF GENERAL MANAGER VS. KASHMIRI LAL BATRA & ORS.

Citation : 2025 LiveLaw (SC) 1062

Click here to read/download the judgment