Bhopal has got the top spot for lowest overall emission and energy use from urban commute. On the other hand, Delhi ranked last in overall emission and fuel use.

The reason attributed for this is sheer number of people, high volume of travel and personal vehicles, and long trip distance, according to an analysis done by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based think tank.

As per the analysis, titled ‘The Urban Commute’, Kolkata and Mumbai are among the mega cities which emit least due to high usage of public transport and walking. It further mentions that the increase in greenhouse gas emissions from transport sector were highest among all other sectors in India.

“This review has become necessary as greenhouse gas emissions from transport — though the third highest currently among all sectors — have recorded the steepest increase. This is also responsible for health-damaging toxic exposure. Growing dependence on personal vehicles for urban commuting can lead to irreversible negative trends and damage,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director-Research and Aadvocacy, CSE, while releasing the analysis.

She added that this ranking proves that for clean and low carbon mobility, cities need policies to stop urban sprawl; reduce distances between residence, jobs and recreation through compact urban forms; scale up integrated public transport, walking and cycling; and put restraints on the use of personal vehicles to avert pollution and climate crisis.

Statistics from 14 cities across India were analysed by the think tank. The 14 cities studied included Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kochi, Bhopal, Vijayawada and Chandigarh

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