Delhi's Sustainable Mobility Transformation: Fewer Cars, Safer Roads, Evolving Public Transit

According to a recent report by the Delhi government, the city has made significant strides in achieving sustainable development goals, particularly in the realm of transportation. As of 2025-09-26, the number of vehicles per 1,000 residents in the capital has seen a sharp decline, dropping from 530 in 2015-16 to 373 in the current year. This reduction in private vehicle density has been accompanied by a notable decrease in road accidents, with the number of crashes falling from 8,085 in 2015 to 5,560 in 2022.

However, the report presents a more nuanced picture when it comes to public transport. While the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster bus fleet have expanded from 5,842 in 2015-16 to 7,485 in the current year, the average daily ridership on buses has actually decreased from 4.59 million to 4.24 million during the same period. In contrast, the Metro system has witnessed a significant surge in ridership, with the daily average almost doubling from 2.62 million in 2015-16 to 5.78 million in 2023-24.

The report also highlights the fluctuating access to public transport in the city. In 2015-16, 42.95% of Delhi's population had access to public transport, a figure that dipped to 40.80% in 2022-23 before improving to 45.83% in the current year. The city aims to provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all by 2030, with a focus on the needs of vulnerable groups.