Odisha tops in transport vehicle growth

According to a study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Odisha has emerged as the leader among 20 states in terms of growth in use of cars, jeeps or vans as modes of transport per 1,000 households during 2001-11.

In the last decade, Odisha has registered a whooping growth of 293 per cent, the best among all surveyed states.

Despite having a dubious distinction in poverty and malnutrition, the State is shining in the auto market. Odisha has registered the fastest growth in the country in terms of vehicle ownership – car, jeeps, van etc, over the pat decade.

The state has ranked 16th in terms of scooters taken as the mode of transport with a growth of about 79 per cent during the same period, according to a study by the apex industry body ASSOCHAM.

Amongst 20 major states, West Bengal has witnessed the slowest growth, placed at the bottom in terms of growth in use of scooters. In use of cars, jeeps or vans as a mode of transport, the state ranks 19th. Kerala is the fastest growing state in terms of scooter as a mode of transport in rural and urban centres.

While, all-India average growth in car/jeep/van as a mode of transport in per 1,000 households was about 105 per cent during 2001-11, 11 states were ahead of the national growth rate with Odisha (293 per cent), Maharashtra (237 per cent), Kerala (222 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (172 per cent) and Jharkhand (170 per cent) being the top five states.

Besides, Karnataka (84 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (76 per cent), Tamil Nadu (72 per cent), West Bengal (66 per cent) and Jammu and Kashmir (30 per cent) recorded the slowest growth.

Similarly, all-India average growth in scooter as a mode of transport in per 1,000 households was about 96 per cent during 2001-11 and a total of 10 states were ahead of the national growth rate with Jharkhand (172 per cent), Punjab (149 per cent), Gujarat (144 per cent), Chhattisgarh (133 per cent) and Maharashtra (121 per cent) being top five states in this aspect, the ASSOCHAM study said.

Scooter as a mode of transport saw an impressive growth of about 131 per cent in rural areas compared to about 59 per cent at urban centres during 2001-11 because of dearth of a public transport system.