By Devraj Verma
Abstract
This article examines emerging perspectives in sustainable transport planning by integrating research on accessibility, inclusivity, and technology-driven urban development. Drawing on studies by Sharma, Dehalwar, Lodhi, Garg, and others, it synthesizes key findings from recent works on transit-oriented development (TOD), land use–transport interaction models, and user-centric evaluation of public transport systems. The discussion highlights innovative approaches such as AI-assisted safety analysis, behavioral route choice modeling, and resilience-oriented infrastructure design. Emphasis is placed on inclusivity for senior citizens, equitable mobility, and integration of green building principles within transport systems. The article argues that future mobility planning must balance efficiency with environmental responsibility and social justice, ensuring adaptive, resilient, and accessible cities. It concludes that sustainable transport requires interdisciplinary collaboration, robust institutional frameworks, and evidence-based policymaking to shape cities that are livable, equitable, and climate-resilient.
Keywords: Sustainable Mobility, Transit-Oriented Development, Accessibility, Inclusivity, Urban Resilience
Rethinking Mobility for Sustainable Cities
Modern transport planning is undergoing a profound transformation. No longer confined to traffic management or infrastructure expansion, it now sits at the intersection of technology, urban form, environmental responsibility, and social equity. Scholars such as Sharma, Dehalwar, Lodhi, and Garg have contributed significantly to this evolving discourse, emphasizing a holistic vision where accessibility, sustainability, and inclusivity shape the future of mobility systems. Their work across journals like Transportation in Developing Economies, European Transport, and Environment and Urbanization ASIA offers a roadmap for reimagining how transport networks can anchor sustainable urban futures.
Accessibility and Human Behavior in Mobility
In hilly urban settings, accessibility challenges often determine the extent to which public open spaces are used. The study by Lalramsangi, Garg, and Sharma (2025) in Environment and Urbanization ASIA captures this relationship by analyzing how topography, route choices, and perceived safety influence pedestrian movement. Their work reveals that the decision to walk is both spatially and psychologically driven. For urban designers, such findings are crucial—they highlight that enhancing accessibility requires more than infrastructure; it demands understanding human-environment interactions that promote equitable mobility.
Transit-Oriented Development: Linking Transport and Economy
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) has emerged as a critical framework for integrating transport with urban economic growth. Sharma and Dehalwar (2025) systematically reviewed TOD literature in Transportation in Developing Economies and found that compact, mixed-use development around transit nodes stimulates economic activity while reducing car dependency. Complementary research by Sharma, Kumar, and Dehalwar (2024) in Economic and Political Weekly explored the foundational drivers of TOD, arguing that successful implementation depends on regulatory coordination and spatial equity. These studies suggest that TOD is not merely an infrastructure strategy—it is a socioeconomic transformation tool for sustainable urbanization.
Modeling Smart Growth through Land Use–Transport Interaction
Understanding how transport and land use interact remains fundamental to city planning. In European Transport, Sharma and Dehawar (2025) evaluated Land Use–Transport Interaction (LUTI) models, emphasizing their predictive power in managing smart urban growth. LUTI models combine spatial data, AI, and policy scenarios to guide sustainable development. Kumar et al. (2025) further advanced this approach in GeoJournal using a CA-ANN model to project Indore’s urban expansion. The synergy between artificial intelligence and spatial analysis marks a paradigm shift—urban planners can now simulate and visualize the long-term impacts of policy decisions on mobility and land distribution.
Inclusive Transport Systems for Aging Populations
Equity in transport planning requires addressing the mobility needs of vulnerable groups. Sharma and Dehalwar (2025), in their chapter for CRC Press, assessed India’s National Urban Transport Policy through the lens of senior citizen inclusivity. Their analysis found that despite policy intentions, implementation gaps persist in design, accessibility, and service delivery. Recommendations include adopting universal design principles and developing age-friendly last-mile connectivity. The research echoes Dehalwar and Sharma’s (2024) earlier arguments on spatial justice, which call for mobility systems that ensure no demographic is excluded from urban opportunities.
Evaluating Public Transport Performance: A User-Centric Perspective
Sustainability in public transport hinges on user satisfaction. Lodhi, Jaiswal, and Sharma (2024) employed discrete choice modeling in Innovative Infrastructure Solutions to measure satisfaction levels among bus users in Bhopal. They identified comfort, reliability, and travel time as dominant predictors of commuter loyalty. This behavioral modeling approach shifts planning from supply-oriented frameworks to demand-sensitive systems, encouraging agencies to design policies grounded in commuter perceptions. Such insights are indispensable for cities aspiring to enhance public transport ridership and reduce private vehicle use.
Pedestrian Safety and Technological Interventions
Safety remains one of the most pressing issues in urban transport systems. In the Journal of Road Safety, Sharma and Dehalwar (2025) synthesized literature on pedestrian safety, revealing how urban form and traffic behavior correlate with crash patterns. They advocate for sensor-based monitoring and data analytics to predict and mitigate risks. Parallel work by Sharma, Singh, and Dehalwar (2024) in the Suranaree Journal of Science and Technology showcased surrogate safety models that identify risk-prone intersections before accidents occur. Together, these efforts underscore a shift toward proactive, technology-enabled safety planning.
Integrating Environmental Sustainability and Infrastructure
Sustainable transport extends beyond mobility—it connects deeply with environmental systems and urban architecture. Research by Sharma et al. (2025) in IOP Conference Series demonstrated how green buildings and energy-efficient neighborhoods can reduce transport energy demand. Similarly, Sharma, Lodhi, and colleagues (2024) evaluated the life cycle impacts of road materials, advocating for recycled content to lower carbon emissions. These studies highlight that transportation cannot be sustainable in isolation; it must align with ecological construction practices, waste reduction strategies, and renewable energy transitions.
Artificial Intelligence: The New Frontier in Urban Systems
Artificial intelligence is transforming the management of both transport and urban waste. Sharma, Dehalwar, and Pandey (2025) explored AI applications in solid waste management, identifying efficiency gains in routing and logistics—concepts equally transferable to bus route optimization. Meanwhile, Ogbanga et al. (2025) connected AI with social work for environmental sustainability, reinforcing the ethical dimension of digital transformation. Together, these studies mark a move toward AI-integrated urban ecosystems, where predictive analytics drive cleaner, safer, and more responsive mobility systems.
Building Institutional Capacity for Planning
Institutional reform and education underpin successful transport planning. Sharma and Dehalwar (2023) proposed creating a Council of Planning in the Journal of Planning Education and Research to strengthen professional standards and policy implementation. By fostering collaboration between academia and government, such frameworks can bridge the gap between theoretical innovation and practical application.
Toward Resilient and Equitable Urban Transport
The concept of resilience—preparing cities to adapt to environmental and social challenges—has become central to mobility planning. Dehalwar and Sharma’s forthcoming Springer Nature book (2026), Deltas Resilience: Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Development in India, illustrates how green infrastructure and water-sensitive design can make transport systems more adaptive to floods and climate impacts. Coupled with their 2024 work on spatial injustice, this perspective asserts that resilience and equity must be co-prioritized for sustainable transport futures.
Conclusion
The collective scholarship of Sharma, Dehalwar, Lodhi, Garg, and collaborators offers a compelling narrative of transformation in transport research. From behavioral route choice studies in hill cities to economic analyses of TOD and AI-driven safety systems, these works converge on a single principle: transport planning must integrate technology, environment, and equity. Modern mobility cannot be measured solely by speed or capacity—it must ensure accessibility, minimize environmental harm, and promote inclusivity.
As cities navigate climate uncertainties and population pressures, transport planning must evolve as an adaptive science, guided by evidence, empathy, and innovation. The studies reviewed here reaffirm that the future of urban transport lies in balance—between growth and conservation, efficiency and justice, technology and humanity.
References
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