A State-level Framework for Integrated Land Use and Transport

Abstract

According to the International Energy Agency, India was the fourth largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world after China, the United States and the European Union in 2011. Considering the accelerated economic growth dynamics in the Indian cities, the contribution of urban agglomerations to the overall carbon emissions is only going to increase in the coming years. The Government of India has formulated the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat and the National Urban Transport Policy as a part of its efforts to induce low carbon and sustainable urban growth. These policies together advocate integrated land use and transportation planning as a tool to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, there exists no policy to guide integrated land use and transportation in the cities or assist in future decision-making in similar matters. In this paper, a framework is devised for such a state-level integrated land use and transportation policy aimed at reducing GHGs and improving sustainable accessibility. The framework draws policy pointers from similar efforts globally to explore the barriers in implementing such a policy in the Indian context. The research also identifies existing schemes/programmes that can support the implementation for such a policy. The chapter concludes with a list of actions that would facilitate the implementation of an integrated land use and transportation policy in India. Whereas, such a framework is rather befitting new developments, travel demand management can be better utilized to render existing developments less carbon intensive. However, the scope of this paper pertains to new development/growth.