Transit – Delhi Study Highlights Growing Need for Better Local Bus Access
Transit – Delhi’s public transport network includes one of India’s largest Metro systems along with thousands of buses operating across the city. However, a recent study has indicated that a large share of daily travel demand is concentrated within short distances, raising questions about whether existing transport services are aligned with how residents actually move around the capital.
According to research conducted by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), nearly six out of every ten trips made in Delhi cover less than four kilometres. The report further noted that around 80% of journeys remain within a six-kilometre distance, suggesting that local mobility plays a major role in everyday travel patterns across the city.
Limited Access to Nearby Bus Services
Despite the prevalence of short-distance travel, the study found that many residential areas continue to face difficulties in reaching public transport services conveniently. The report, titled “Neighborhood Public Transit Services: Situational Analysis of Bus-Based Public Transport Supply in Delhi,” revealed that approximately 31% of urban neighbourhoods are located beyond a 500-metre walking distance from the nearest bus stop.
The 500-metre benchmark is considered the standard for accessible public transport under India’s Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) framework. Areas falling outside this range often require residents to spend additional time and money reaching a bus service before beginning their main journey.
Gap Between Travel Demand and Transport Planning
Researchers observed a noticeable disconnect between the way people travel and the current design of the public transport network. While substantial investments have been made in Metro expansion and bus fleet growth over the years, neighbourhood-level connectivity remains a challenge in several parts of the city.
As a result, many commuters are forced to walk long distances or depend on auto-rickshaws and other informal transport options to bridge the gap between their homes and major transit corridors. This issue is commonly referred to as the first- and last-mile connectivity problem and continues to affect daily travel convenience for thousands of residents.
Areas Facing the Greatest Connectivity Challenges
The report identified several densely populated localities where access to formal bus services is particularly limited. These include Deoli, Jaitpur, Sangam Vihar, Mustafabad, Ghonda, Sainik Enclave, Hari Nagar Extension and Prem Nagar.
Researchers found that in these neighbourhoods, no buildings were located within the recommended 500-metre distance from a bus stop. This effectively places public transport beyond easy walking reach for many residents and increases dependence on alternative travel options.
Smaller Electric Buses Suggested
The study also examined the suitability of existing buses operating within residential areas. It concluded that standard 12-metre buses are often unable to efficiently navigate narrow internal roads found in many densely populated settlements.
To improve local connectivity, researchers recommended introducing smaller electric buses operating at higher frequencies. These vehicles would be capable of running on roads as narrow as seven metres, allowing public transport services to penetrate deeper into residential neighbourhoods.
Amit Bhatt, Managing Director of ICCT India, stated that first- and last-mile connectivity remains one of the key barriers to expanding bus-based transport systems in Indian cities. He noted that Delhi’s Electric Vehicle Interconnector (DEVI) Bus initiative represents an important effort to address these challenges and could offer useful lessons for other urban centres.
Operational Measures Proposed
In addition to introducing smaller buses, the report suggested limiting neighbourhood bus operations to a radius of five kilometres from bus depots. Researchers believe this approach could improve operational efficiency while supporting charging infrastructure requirements for electric vehicles.
Current figures available on the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) website show that DTC operates 2,630 buses, including 2,579 air-conditioned buses and 51 CNG buses. The state transport department operates an additional 2,817 buses, bringing Delhi’s total public bus fleet to 5,447 vehicles.