Cities are increasingly becoming urbanised, and the burden on transportation systems is mounting. A report by the United Nations expects that by 2050, two of every three people are likely to be living in cities or other urban centres, stressing the need for more sustainable urban planning and public services. In this scenario, smarter transportation and mobility systems are imperative in ensuring that cities remain efficient and offer improved services to their dwellers.

The seven core principles of smart mobility  

Smart mobility aims to transform urban transport by utilising leading-edge technologies to create efficient, sustainable systems. To build the transport networks of the future, cities must embrace these key principles:

 1. Safety First: Smart mobility technologies lay emphasis on safety by decreasing accidents and managing congestion. For example, AI-led traffic management systems have been effective in lessening road congestion by up to 25% in cities like Singapore. Moreover, with the help of autonomous vehicles and smart infrastructure, cities can respond to emergencies swiftly and mitigate human errors by making the urban transport system safer.

2. Flexibility and Choice: A notable benefit of smart mobility is the diversity of transport options available for commuters. From ride-hailing services to micro-mobility solutions such as e-scooters and bike-sharing programmes, the flexibility to opt for the most suitable mode will indeed alter daily commutes for every individual. 

3. Seamless Efficiency: Cities are already deploying intelligent transport systems that optimise traffic flow, reduce delays and improve efficiency. Together with this, smart traffic lights can be of assistance in prioritising emergency vehicles, while sensors could monitor the real-time traffic situation and regulate signals to avoid bottlenecks.

4.  Always Connected: Connectivity forms the very core of modern smart mobility. With the integration of real-time data, GPS together with cloud-based platforms, cities can offer live updates about traffic, parking, and public transport schedules. This significantly enhances the commuter experience and simplifies navigation. To exemplify, in London, real-time data helps in optimising bus routes and improving service quality in rush hours.

5. Sustainability at the Core: EVs and sustainable transport solutions are essential in reducing urban transport emissions. Eco-friendly technologies lessen idle times and fuel consumption. Cities adapting to these technologies will be able to make significant strides towards their climate goals.

6. Affordable and Accessible: Innovative solutions such as Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) incorporate different transportation options in a single app, allowing users to plan, book, and pay for multi-modal journeys. Recently, the Norwegian capital Oslo effectively integrated bike sharing on its official public transport app. Besides, low-cost shared transport services make it simpler for individuals in dense and less densely populated areas to access reliable transport. Such accessibility reduces transportation expenses and ensures that urban mobility is equitable.

7. Social Impact: Beyond technology, smart mobility strengthens the social fabric of cities. By limiting travel time, expanding accessibility as well as creating more connected, liveable urban spaces, it directly enhances the quality of life and allows people to spend less time in traffic and more time living.

Key Solutions Impacting the Future of Cities

Smart mobility is not merely about reanalysing vehicles. Instead, it is about redesigning entire urban systems. Several solutions are emerging worldwide, hinting at the way cities can build more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable transport ecosystems.

MaaS is at the heart of this shift. By integrating multiple transport modes—public transit, bike-sharing, car rentals, and ride-hailing—into a single platform, MaaS simplifies urban travel. Cities such as Helsinki, Singapore, and Vienna show how seamless booking and payment reduce dependency on private cars while improving accessibility and making commuting more predictable. For expanding cities, MaaS represents a scalable way to expand mobility without proportionally increasing congestion or emissions.

Equally transformative is the creation of multimodal hubs that decentralise traffic away from overcrowded city centres. Paris, for instance, is reshaping mobility by developing large transfer points on the edges of the metropolitan area to decongest stations like Gare du Nord. While these hubs combine high-speed rail, metro, bus, and shared mobility services, they also serve as engines of urban regeneration by integrating retail, offices, and housing.

Another key question for transport planning is whether services work as competitors or complements. Buses and metros often overlap in coverage. Nevertheless, when coordinated strategically, these transport mediums reinforce each other. Buses can serve as feeders to metro stations, provide last-mile connectivity as well as extend networks into underserved areas. Such complementarity ensures broader coverage and more efficient utilisation of resources.

On the far side of transport networks, the backbone of future cities will lie underground. Utility ducts, as seen in Gujarat’s GIFT (Gujarat International Finance Tec) City, house power lines, water pipes, and internet cables in secure tunnels. This not only improves reliability and reduces surface clutter but also enables systems like district cooling, achieving both energy efficiency and sustainability.

Together, these innovations show that the future of mobility depends on integration—of modes, systems, and infrastructure—to create cities that are more connected, resilient, and liveable.

In a nutshell, smarter mobility is more than a technological upgrade; it is a pathway to resilient, sustainable, and human-centric cities. By consolidating innovation with integration, from MaaS platforms to multimodal hubs and underground utility ducts, urban transport can evolve into a system that is safer, greener, and more inclusive. Cities that adopt these solutions in the present day will shape a future where mobility fuels progress along with quality of life.

(The author is Managing Director, SYSTRA Group. Views are personal.)