As Indian cities struggle with rapid urbanization and limited public transport capacity, Cityflo has taken a bold step forward. Through its joint venture, Urban Glide, the company has partnered with veteran transport leader Victor Nagaonkar to rethink how buses can address this growing challenge.
Decades of Experience in Public Transit
Nagaonkar brings over 40 years of experience from the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST). As OSD to the General Manager, he played a central role in shaping Mumbai’s bus network. His responsibilities spanned route planning, fleet deployment, scheduling, depot management, and driver and conductor operations.
He also introduced real-time systems that kept Mumbai moving through floods, rail breakdowns, pandemics, and even terror incidents. Beyond crisis management, he led key reforms such as handheld electronic ticketing and SOP frameworks that continue to anchor BEST’s operations today.
Bringing Expertise to Urban Glide
At Urban Glide, Nagaonkar’s mission is to apply this deep operational knowledge to India’s wider urban mobility challenge. Buses remain the most accessible and scalable mode of public transport. Yet, service quality and capacity often fall short of commuter expectations.
“For millions of Indians, the bus is a lifeline to work, education, and opportunity,” said Nagaonkar, now President of Urban Glide. “The shift we need is simple but transformative—delivering reliable, safe, and well-managed services that commuters can trust. With Urban Glide, we aim to build systems that can make this a reality across Indian cities, at scale.”
India’s Mobility Market at an Inflection Point
Rapid urbanization has created one of the world’s largest mobility markets. India currently operates only 1.2 buses per 1,000 people—far below global benchmarks. This shortfall points to enormous potential for growth.
The government’s PM-eBus Sewa programme, which commits ₹3,435 crore to deploy 38,000 electric buses by 2029, signals a major shift in the sector. Subsidies and policy support are creating the conditions for change.
Bridging the Gap Between Policy and Operations
India’s bus ecosystem is also evolving structurally. Long-term Gross Cost Contracts (GCCs) now require operators to manage fleets for up to 12 years. Many operators, however, lack the operational expertise to sustain such commitments.
Urban Glide, under Nagaonkar’s leadership, is addressing this gap. The company is developing frameworks for route planning, driver sourcing and training, technology integration, and service assurance. These systems aim to align long-term policy goals with real-world operational excellence.
A Catalyst for Smarter, Sustainable Mobility
By combining public sector wisdom with private sector agility, Urban Glide positions itself as a catalyst for change. The goal is clear—help cities move faster, smarter, and more sustainably while improving the daily experience of millions of bus commuters across India.