Sustainable urban development? An analysis of fuel innovation in the auto-rickshaw sector in Bangalore and Hyderabad

This article deals with the question of what contributions fuel transitions can make to more sustainable development in urban areas in India. A major sector of private collective transportation is studied—the auto-rickshaw sector, in which a private sector-led transition to gas has taken place. The gas-kit models implemented in Hyderabad and Bangalore are analyzed in terms of environmental, economic and social aspects. An important conclusion is that fuel transition should not be assessed along a single dimension; here lower costs combine with lower emissions and potentially better environmental conditions. The success of such a development depends on its necessity at different levels as to be supportive governmental policies.