DESIGNING A MODIFIED SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT FRAMEWORK FOR DELHI

Abstract

The transport system in Delhi has suffered excessive pressure as a result of the fast urbanisation and motorisation that have resulted in congestion, air pollution, safety issues, social disparities and governance issues. Despite the fact that several policies and plans are associated with transport, they are not connected to such principles as holistic sustainability and global development agendas. The current doctoral study fills this research gap by developing a Modified Sustainable Transport Framework (MSTF) and an Assistive Decision-Support System (DSS) particular to the case of Delhi, and directly aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The research is based on a rigorous multi-method research design coordinated around four objectives, which are: 1. Understanding the transport system of Delhi. 2. Identifying major areas of improvement in line with the SDGs. 3. Reformatting the current planning framework to develop an effective, sustainable transport system. 4. Developing an assistive system to actualise the principles of sustainability. The literature review, together with policies and best practices worldwide, provided a holistic description of the transport system, drawing on empirical fieldwork and secondary data analysis. The reason is that fourteen national- and locally based structures that transport were analysed, and the Delhi Master Plan 2041 (MPD-2041) was chosen to be evaluated. According to SDG-based indicators designed as the 5P framework (People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership), a systematic evaluation of 33 transport and urban planners was conducted using a Likert-scale assessment. The gaps were quantitatively analysed using mean scores and percentage agreement and were found to be critical, particularly in the domains of governance integration, multimodal coordination, nonmotorised transport infrastructure, inclusiveness, and collaborating with stakeholders. PITS-G has been designed to address the identified gaps and introduce quantifiable SDG-based performance indicators. The research also conceptualises an Assistive Decision-Support System to balance planning and implementation, comprising a unit mobility data platform, a dashboard for the policymaker, and assistive tools for the commuter. The usefulness of the framework and the strength of the system were justified by two contrasting case studies, Connaught Place and Dwarka Sector 21, where sustainability performance improved, with the greatest change in the Peace and Partnership dimension. It strengthens the relationship between the global sustainability goals and local transport planning, providing a viable understanding for policymakers, planners, and researchers on the path to achieving inclusive, resilient, and climate-responsive urban mobility systems in Delhi.