Union government proposed a transit-oriented development (TOD) plan for 14 large cities with a population of over 30 lakh.Cities will be developed as “growth hubs” through economic and transit planning, and orderly development of peri-urban areas (areas immediately surrounding a city).
Transit-Oriented Development
- TOD is a planning strategy that aims to concentrate jobs, housing and services around public transport stations.
- It encourages development that is easy to walk or bike through, with jobs, homes, and services located close to transit options.
- TOD works on the idea that economic growth, urban transport and land use are more efficient when planned together.
- This approach has been successfully used in cities like Stockholm, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Singapore.
World Bank 3V Framework Guiding TOD Plans
- Node Value: It describes the importance of a station in the public transit network based on passenger traffic, connections with other transport modes, and centrality within the network.
- Place Value: It reflects the quality and attractiveness of the area around the station.
- Key factors include diverse land use, access to essential services like schools and healthcare, the availability of amenities within walking or cycling distance, pedestrian-friendly design, and the size of urban blocks around the station.
- Market Potential Value: It refers to the potential market value of areas around stations.
- This is assessed by considering factors like the number of current and future jobs nearby, the number of jobs accessible by transit within 30 minutes, housing density, available land for development, possible zoning changes, and overall market activity.
Benefits of TOD
- Boosting Economic Competitiveness: TOD encourages higher densities and clusters jobs in smaller areas, leading to benefits like increased city competitiveness.Research shows that doubling job density can boost economic productivity by 5 to 10%.
- Vibrant and Livable Communities: TOD brings jobs, housing, and amenities closer to transit stations, creating lively communities with great public spaces and shorter commutes, making cities more livable.Mutual Reinforcement of Compact Urban Development and Public Transit: Compact urban development and good public transit work together. High-density areas bring more passengers, making transit systems profitable, while the concentration of jobs and housing near stations supports these transport systems.
- Increasing Real Estate Value: Being close to mass transit makes TOD neighbourhoods more attractive, increasing real estate values.Cities can use this extra value to fund transit upgrades, affordable housing, and sustainable growth.In Hong Kong, this approach raised Hong Kong Dollar 140 billion and provided land for 600,000 public housing units between 1980 and 2005.
- Promoting Inclusivity: While TOD can increase property prices, this can be mitigated by including affordable housing in new developments.An inclusive TOD approach ensures access to jobs and services for people of all income levels.
- Reducing Carbon Footprint: TOD reduces car use, shortens commutes, increases productivity, and lowers carbon emissions.E.g., in Stockholm, development along transit routes boosted economic value per person by 41% and cut greenhouse gas emissions per person by 35% from 1993 to 2010.
- Supporting Disaster Resilience: When implemented in areas less prone to natural hazards, TOD can enhance disaster resilience by encouraging high-density development in safer zones, reducing exposure to risks.