logo
6 In 10 Daily Trips Under 4km: Why Delhi's Transit Leaves Many Behind

6 In 10 Daily Trips Under 4km: Why Delhi's Transit Leaves Many Behind

Time of India30-05-2025
New Delhi: Six in 10 daily trips made by commuters using public transport in Delhi are under 4 km, but most city buses operate on longer routes rather than providing robust connectivity within neighbourhoods.
According to a study conducted by International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), the true potential of public transport can only be unlocked if transit services align with the short-distance mobility needs of commuters. The study, "Neighbourhood Public Transit Services: Situational Analysis of Bus-Based Public Transport Supply in Delhi," proposes a neighbourhood-level approach for expanding bus services, especially through the deployment of smaller electric buses designed to serve short, intrazonal routes.
The study presents a spatially granular analysis of bus-based public transport availability across the national capital territory. By leveraging geographic information systems, ward-level data, and transport route information from DTC and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System, which runs cluster buses, the study concluded that 31% of urban neighbourhoods in Delhi fall outside a 500-metre radius of a public bus stop, a threshold recognised as the standard for walkable access under India's transit-oriented development policy.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
While Delhi made important strides in expanding its metro network and introducing new buses under govt's initiatives, ICCT in its study asserted that access to low-cost, reliable neighbourhood mobility remained limited for many. "Nearly one-third of Delhi's urban area lacks convenient access to formal bus services. For thousands of residents, daily mobility often involves long walks or costly last-mile connections, conditions that discourage public transport use and contribute to congestion and pollution," the study pointed out.
It identified Deoli, Jaitpur, Sangam Vihar, Mustafabad, Ghonda, Sainik Enclave, Hari Nagar Extension and Prem Nagar among the most underserved municipal wards in the capital. These areas house a large number of unauthorised colonies and have a labyrinth of narrow lanes and bylanes that cannot be catered to by full-length buses currently operated by DTC and DIMTS.
While Delhi has extensive and vast public transport connectivity, it lacks accessibility in dense urban settlements where a traditional 12m city bus cannot operate with ease.
"By aligning route design with localised demand patterns and physical constraints such as road widths, the study strongly advocates short-distance, high-frequency neighbourhood buses tailored to Delhi's complex urban fabric," ICCT said, recommending that smaller 9-metre neighbourhood buses on roads seven metres or wider should be deployed.
The study pointed out that Delhi govt recently launched Delhi Electric Vehicle Interconnector (Devi) buses, a fleet of smaller electric buses intended to serve as last-mile and intra-zonal connectors across areas that cannot accommodate traditional 12-metre buses.
"First-and last-mile connectivity and the need to serve low-density or hard-to-reach areas are critical challenges that hinder the scaling up of bus services in cities. To address these issues, cities around the world introduced neighbourhood-level bus services, such as 'Community Buses' in Japan, 'Neighbourhood Circulators' in the United States, and Quartiersbusse in Germany. In India, Devi bus is a similar innovation, with Delhi govt piloting such a service in the city," said ICCT India's managing director Amit Bhatt.
"If successful, this scheme would not only benefit Delhi but also have a strong ripple effect across other cities in the country," he added.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Jackals find homes near human habitats in Kerala: Survey
Jackals find homes near human habitats in Kerala: Survey

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Jackals find homes near human habitats in Kerala: Survey

Kochi: A survey conducted by an environmental group found that Kerala has an estimated population of 20,000 to 30,000 golden jackals, locally known as kurukkan or kurunari. The survey confirmed the jackal's presence in approximately 70% of the villages from where responses were collected by 2,200 participants. It was found that the jackals have a strong preference for lowland plains below 200m above sea level. The report, 'Uncelebrated Wanderers: Unravelling the Mysteries of Kerala's Golden Jackals', released on Monday shows that their most common habitats are not dense forests but rather human-modified landscapes, including cashew, coconut, rubber and mango plantations, as well as paddy fields and rural settlements. Their presence in and around urban centres like Kannur, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram highlights their ability to survive in human-dominated environments. The report, prepared by Aranyakam Nature Foundation, a group of environmental experts, notes their adaptability in surviving on organic waste in the coastal areas of Malappuram. Notably, no reports of their presence came from the western parts of the Vembanad Lake region, including the Alappuzha coast, which could be attributed to waterlogged terrain and dense infrastructure acting as barriers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tennessee Launches New Policy for Cars Used Less Than 50 Miles/day Bindright Undo Similarly, their presence was surprisingly low in the open plains of Attappadi, which researchers suggest could be due to competition with other predators or subtle habitat factors. Meanwhile, jackals are rarely seen in the protected forests of Western Ghats, as the dense and rugged terrain is not their preferred habitat. However, isolated sightings from high-altitude areas, such as Munnar and Eravikulam, suggest that small populations may be able to adapt to colder climates. Providing deeper ecological insights, it was found that residents in Wayanad noted that jackals helped control wild boar populations by preying on their juveniles. The residents suggested to the surveyors that the jackals themselves have vanished due to the excessive use of pesticides like Furadan. In Palakkad, communities linked the decline in jackals to a rise in the peafowl population, warranting scientific study to confirm their ecological basis. "We did not know anything about the golden jackals, a species which very much lived amongst us. That inquisitiveness nudged us to conduct the study, which helped us to know the distribution pattern in the state. We need to conduct more studies on its behaviour, food and other facets," said Dr P S Easa, an elephant expert who is part of the study. A key finding was the public perception of jackals. At least 75% of the respondents do not view them as a nuisance. However, about a quarter of the respondents expressed concern, due to poultry predation and rare rabies-related incidents. Raising concerns, the study also highlights a curious linguistic, cultural, and identity crisis jackals face. There is a growing trend among the younger, urban generation to use the term 'kurunari' exclusively. This shift is causing misidentification and a slow erosion of local knowledge. In some parts of Kerala, the rarer term 'Oolan' is still in use. However, its exact reference is becoming unclear to many, reflecting a more profound uncertainty about the animal's identity in the collective consciousness of Kerala society. Although the golden jackal population in Kerala seems to be stable, the report identifies significant threats. Habitat loss due to landscape changes, health issues arising from dependency on garbage, and potential hybridisation with stray dogs are substantial concerns. This genetic mixing could compromise the jackal's long-term genetic integrity, a subject that warrants urgent research.

Holiday or not? When kids & parents were irked over confusion
Holiday or not? When kids & parents were irked over confusion

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Holiday or not? When kids & parents were irked over confusion

Bhopal: Confusion prevailed among school students and their families about school closures on Tuesday. The matter intensified during the morning hours when several educational institutions communicated to parents about a school holiday. However, no such directive was issued by the district authorities. Several students stayed at home upon learning about certain schools being shut, only to later discover that their institutions were operational. Parents who missed these communications arrived at schools and subsequently had to head back home. Many parents expressed frustration over the lack of clear communication from school administrations. "Several families already arranged their daily schedules based on the incorrect information about school closure. They reached schools but found the gates closed," alleged Vishal Nema, father of a class 6 student. The district education office authorities later clarified that there was no official announcement regarding a holiday declaration. "We issued instructions to be aware when there are regular rains, and it was up to the respective principals of the schools to decide. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Aged 50-85 With No Life Insurance Could Get This Reassured Get Quote Undo I think because of this reason several schools kept their campuses closed as a precautionary measure," said DEO NK Ahirwar. The miscommunication affected several students across various schools. Some parents reported receiving messages through WhatsApp groups, while others learned about the supposed closure through word of mouth. This led to a chaotic situation where different schools followed different protocols in the city. The district education officer later issued a statement emphasising that parents must verify information from official channels before making any decision. School managements were advised to establish a clear chain of command for disseminating important information to parents and students to avert such situations in the future.

Built For 5cr Decades Ago, Two Dams Now Need 400cr Repairs
Built For 5cr Decades Ago, Two Dams Now Need 400cr Repairs

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Built For 5cr Decades Ago, Two Dams Now Need 400cr Repairs

1 2 Nagpur: The state cabinet on Tuesday approved an expenditure of over Rs400 crore for carrying out repairs on the Bor and Dham dams in Wardha district. The two dams were built 58 and 39 years ago respectively at a cost of around Rs5 crore each. Lack of maintenance over the years has affected the capacity of the canal distribution network of these two dams. With the actual irrigation coming down to less than a quarter of the original capacity, the dams now need repair works of Rs400 crore combined to be revived, said sources. The Bor dam is classified as a large-sized project with a total irrigation capacity of over 16,000 hectares. Dham, on the other hand, is a mid-sized project built to irrigate 9,000 hectares, said sources. Once an irrigation project is completed, it needs regular maintenance after it becomes operational. The Bor dam was completed in 1967 and Dham in 1986. The maintenance has been tardy over the years leading to a gradual decline in irrigation capacity, said sources. Bor would be getting Rs231 crore, while an amount of Rs197 crore has been approved for the Dham project. As against a capacity of more than 16,000 hectares, around 4,000 hectares are only irrigated through the Bor dam. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What Is Your Writing Missing? Grammarly Install Now Undo Dham now covers 1,000 odd hectares as against a capacity of 9,000 hectares, said sources. Sources said it's not the govt that is to be blamed for it. The maintenance of a dam's infrastructure is carried out with the funds received from water users. This includes farmers who form users' cooperatives for drawing water from the dams. However, due to poor realisation of funds from users, the maintenance of the canal network could not take place, ultimately leading to the current situation, a source said. Apart from other repairs, 1,000 odd structures out of 1,484 will have to be rebuilt in the Dham project. Even the Bor dam will need reconstruction of 1,300 structures. The dam has been built by the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC). The VIDC put up a higher estimate for carrying out repairs, which was eventually brought down at various levels. Earlier, a total estimate of more than Rs600 crore was put up before the authorities, which has now been cut down to Rs400 crore, said sources.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store