Urban Commuters in Indian States and Cities: Modes of Transport and Distances

Abstract

A strong urban transport system is crucial for city efficiency, given the need for mobility in cities. This article uses Census of India (2011) data on transport to examine work-related commute among Indians at the state and city levels. At the state level, it finds a strong positive correlation between workforce participation rate and proportion of commuters. It also finds a strong positive correlation between the proportion who commute on foot and those who use bicycles. States characterised by extensive usage of public transport are the ones that account for a greater share of workforce participation. At the city level, the article finds that the smallest cities are most conducive for those who commute on foot or bicycles, whereas cars are preferred by commuters in high-income cities. In mid-sized cities, commuters tend to use two-wheelers. Commuters across all the selected cities walk for long distances spanning between 6 and 10 km. This indicates the need for further examination of public transport and infrastructure in these cities.