60% of Delhi Journeys Under 4 km, Yet Adequate Last-Mile Bus Service Missing: ICCT Study

A new study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) has found that 60% of daily journeys in Delhi are less than 4 kilometers, yet many neighborhoods lack convenient access to public bus transportation. The research highlights a significant mismatch between travel needs and available transit options in India's capital.

According to the study titled "Neighborhood public transit services: Situational analysis of bus-based public transport supply in Delhi," approximately 31% of Delhi's urban neighborhoods lie beyond 500 meters from any bus stop, which is the standard walking distance under India's Transit-Oriented Development policy.

The research, which provides the first spatial microanalysis of bus-based public transport availability in the National Capital Region, utilized transportation route information from DTC and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS), ward-level data, and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis.

The worst-served areas include Devli, Jaitpur, Sangam Vihar, Mustafabad, Ghonda, Sainik Enclave, Hari Nagar Extension, and Prem Nagar. In these areas, not a single building falls within the 500-meter radius of any bus stop, highlighting severe coverage gaps in the existing network.

The study notes that while Delhi has taken significant steps such as expanding the metro network and introducing new buses under government initiatives, affordable and reliable neighborhood-level mobility remains limited for many residents. Many commuters must either walk long distances or use expensive last-mile services, conditions that discourage public transport use and contribute to congestion and pollution.

According to government data, while 60% of all journeys in Delhi are less than 4 km, and 80% are under 6 km, the current bus fleet primarily serves trunk routes and is often unable to operate in many dense and narrow interior areas.

The report advocates for a neighborhood-level approach to expanding bus services through the deployment of small electric buses designed specifically to serve short, inter-zonal routes. It recommends limiting new neighborhood routes to a 5 km service radius from depots to minimize deadhead kilometers and ensure the viability of electric buses with opportunity charging requirements.

Amit Bhatt, Managing Director of ICCT India, said: "First and last-mile connectivity and the need to serve low-density or access-difficult areas are key challenges in expanding bus services in cities. Cities worldwide have introduced neighborhood-level bus services to address these issues, such as community buses in Japan, neighborhood circulators in America, and Quartiersbusse in Germany."

The Delhi government has recently launched the Delhi Electric Vehicle Interconnector (DEVI) buses, introduced by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, which are intended to serve as last-mile and inter-zonal connections in areas that cannot accommodate traditional 12-meter buses.

As Indian cities face increasing population pressures and mobility demands, the study presents a roadmap for inclusive and sustainable transportation strategies, placing local planning and data-driven design at the center of the next generation of public transport improvements.