Prelims: Current events of national and international importance| Government policies and Interventions
Why in News?
The India’s first ever National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), conducted during July 2025–June 2026, covering commuting patterns of workers and students is recently been released.
- Released by – National Statistics Office (NSO).
Key Findings
- Public Transport – Only 15% of workers use buses, trains, trams or auto-rickshaws.
- Private Vehicles – 46% use two-wheelers or cars:
- Two-wheelers – 43%
- Cars – 3%
- Urban areas – Two-wheelers account for 53% and cars 5.7% of worker commutes.
- Walking – 28.3% of workers walk to work; 10.7% use bicycles.
- Rural–Urban gap – 36% of rural workers walk to work compared to 14% in urban areas.
- Travel time – Average work commute is 25 minutes — 27 minutes in urban and 23 minutes in rural areas.
- Expenditure – Average monthly commuting expenditure is ₹785.
- Students – Walking is the major mode (37%), followed by buses (29.5%) and bicycles (15.8%). Around 88% reach educational institutions within 30 minutes.
Significance of the survey
- It highlights challenges of urban traffic congestion and dependence on private vehicles.
- It indicates gaps in public transport accessibility, frequency and last-mile connectivity.
- It supports sustainable and inclusive mobility through walking, cycling and public transport.
- It provides evidence for route optimisation, transport planning and service scheduling.
Reference
Times of India| National Household Travel Survey (NHTS)
