Spatial Assessment of Commuting Patterns in India's National Capital Region

Contemporary urbanization as experienced in India is characterized by urban sprawl, which increases commuting distances and promotes private individual transport. This article takes India's largest region as a case study and uses data from the Census of India on commuting, the population, socio-economic and infrastructural factors as well as spatial data on urban and rural administrative boundaries to understand commuting patterns. This article has two major objectives: first, to map spatially commuting patterns (distances to work and modes of travel); second, to estimate the effect of people-based (minorities, illiteracy rate, household facilities) variables and place-based (basic amenities, road and rail network densities, etc.) variables on commuting. The research findings are as follows: short trips are prevalent in urban areas, while intermediate and long trips are prevalent in rural areas. Short trips are common in areas with a high share of minorities as well as illiteracy rates. Long trips are undertaken by public transport such as trains and buses, intermediate trips by two-wheelers and buses, and short trips on foot and by bicycle. Areas with high prevalence of long trips have a better provision of basic amenities. The paper recommends the following measures to reduce motorization and long commuting distances: (i) government initiatives to reduce private transport and promote transitbased transportation; (ii) the integration of rural and urban areas through public transport; (iii) the establishment of a unified regional transportation authority to integrate regional transportation; and (iv) the introduction of subsidies to reduce private transportation and the implementation of transportation policy proposals.