ET World Leaders Forum 2025: Uber’s Pradeep Parmeswaran says India must rethink car-centric urban future

India’s cities risk grinding to a halt under the weight of fast-growing urbanisation and booming car ownership unless policymakers and urban dwellers radically rethink mobility, said Pradeep Parameswaran, global head of mobility at Uber.

Congestion and inefficient commutes-the “misery” of daily travel-persist despite massive construction and infrastructure investments, Parameswaran said at the event.

Highlighting the scale of India’s challenge, he said: “Between now and 2035, 270 million people will move into cities. Is there any hope that you can build enough roads to keep up with that?”

Skyrocketing infrastructure spending has not kept pace with demand, he said. The traditional solution of road expansion, he said, is simply not viable amid the accelerating urban influx.

Cars sit idle for 90% of the time, while as much as 40% of urban road space is consumed by parking, Parameswaran said. This vastly disproportionate allocation means “70% of your road capacity is being used by 20% of the people,” he said, arguing that the status symbol of car ownership is unsustainable and exclusionary.

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Parameswaran urged India to adopt rapid public transit expansion at “China speed and scale”, addressing both infrastructure and systemic fragmentation. Referring to Delhi Metro-one of the busiest in the world-he said despite such marquee projects, challenges like connectivity and seamless commuter experience persist. “How many of you took Delhi Metro to get here today? Fat zero,” he said, pointing to perceived discomforts with public transport.To create truly integrated urban mobility, Parameswaran advocated for cohesive, technology-driven solutions. Today, every metro and transit system in India operates on different technology platforms, resulting in a disjointed commuter experience. Initiatives like the Open Network for Digital Commerce mark a promising start, but much more remains to be done. “We must reach the point where a commuter can leave home, press a button, and have tickets and options for every leg of the trip,” he said, envisioning seamless digital integration across all transit modes.A critical challenge lies in first- and last-mile connectivity, in how commuters access and disperse from major transit hubs, he said. He suggested bike taxis as a practical, innovative solution for India, home to 250 million two-wheelers. Despite their efficiency and low cost, regulatory uncertainty impedes scale, he said. Autos and e-rickshaws complement this vision, he added.Only 37% of Indian women participate in the workforce, one of the lowest global rates for a country of this size, with safety in public transport a major barrier, he said. “The amount of technology, training, systems we have built to invest in safety…88% of the women who use ride-hailing options feel like it’s a much safer option,” Parameswaran said.

He said self-driving cars could revolutionise urban mobility, based on his experiences in the US, China, the Middle East and London. Though India may not be the first market for autonomous vehicles, their adoption is “inevitable”, he said.

“The pride that comes from being a developed nation is not when people say ‘I have my own car to go in.’ It’s when the wealthiest feel it’s natural to take public transport. Until then, building more roads and buying more cars will only worsen our urban future,” he said.

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