Green Infrastructure and Socio-Environmental Implications for Urban Sustainability in North and South Delhi

Authors

  • Nishit

    Department of Geography, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Evening College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110017, India

  • Subhash Anand

    Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v8i4.13111
Received: 2 February 2026 | Revised: 19 March 2026 | Accepted: 23 March 2026 | Published Online: 1 July 2026

Abstract

Rapid urbanization in Delhi has intensified pressure on urban infrastructure, environmental resources, and the overall quality of life of residents. This study assesses urban sustainability and quality of life in the North and South districts of Delhi by examining the role of green infrastructure and socio-environmental conditions. The research adopts a mixed-method approach combining household survey data, remote sensing analysis, and statistical techniques to evaluate spatial and socio-economic variations in urban sustainability. Vegetation dynamics were examined using satellite-derived vegetation indices, while primary survey data were used to evaluate access to basic urban services such as water supply, sanitation, healthcare, education, waste management, and income levels. The findings reveal notable spatial disparities in green infrastructure distribution and access to basic services between the two districts. South Delhi generally demonstrates better access to socio-economic resources and planned green spaces, while several areas in North Delhi face challenges related to infrastructure provision and service accessibility. The analysis highlights how differences in urban planning, socio-economic conditions, and infrastructure availability influence residents’ quality of life and environmental sustainability. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of integrating green infrastructure planning with equitable service provision to promote inclusive and sustainable urban development in rapidly expanding metropolitan regions such as Delhi.

Keywords:

Urban Sustainability; Green Infrastructure; Quality of Life; Urban Inequality

References

[1] Lipi, A.I., Hasan, N., 2021. Urbanization in Bangladesh: Emerging challenges and the way forward. Bangladesh Journal of Multidisciplinary Scientific Research. 3(1), 33–44.

[2] Kumar, A., Jain, A., Agarwal, B., et al., 2021. Pixel-based classification of land use/land cover built-up and non-built-up areas using Google Earth engine in an urban region (Delhi, India). In Explainable Artificial Intelligence for Smart Cities. CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA. pp. 245–267. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003172772-14

[3] Leishman, C., Goel, S., 2024. Amenities and housing market dynamics: Implications for population change, urban attractiveness, innovation, and productivity. Urban Studies. 62(7). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00420980241284480

[4] Fretwell, K., Greig, A., 2019. Towards a better understanding of the relationship between individual’s self-reported connection to nature, personal well-being and environmental awareness. Sustainability. 11(5), 1386. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051386

[5] Metcalfe, D.E., Farquhar, G.J., 1987. Modeling gas migration through unsaturated soils from waste disposal sites. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution. 32, 247–259. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00227697

[6] Thampi, A.M., 2025. Urbanization in India: Trends, challenges and strategies for sustainable growth. International Journal of Advanced Research. 13(4), 1374–1383. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/20848

[7] Jucker, R., 2011. ESD between systemic change and bureaucratic obfuscation: Some reflections on environmental education and education for sustainable development in Switzerland. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development. 5(1), 39–60.

[8] Pallathadka, A., Chang, H., Ajibade, I., 2023. Urban sustainability implementation and indicators in the United States: A systematic review. City and Environment Interactions. 19, 100108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cacint.2023.100108

[9] Dodman, D., McGranahan, G., Dalal-Clayton, B., 2013. Integrating the Environment in Urban Planning and Management: Key Principles and Approaches for Cities in the 21st Century. United Nations Environment Programme: Nairobi, Kenya.

[10] Barata-Salgueiro, T., Guimarães, P., 2020. Public policy for sustainability and retail resilience in Lisbon City Center. Sustainability. 12(22), 9433.

[11] Schirmer, H., 1986. Waste disposal site sanitation. In Chemical Waste. Springer: Berlin, Germany. pp. 289–309. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69625-1_12

[12] United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), 2022. Survey checklist for assessing water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities. Available from: https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/Item%206_survey%20checklist-WinHCF_draft-publication.pdf (cited 15 January 2026).

[13] Townshend, J.R., Justice, C.O., 1986. Analysis of the dynamics of African vegetation using the normalized difference vegetation index. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 7(11), 1435–1445.

[14] Rayat, C.S., 2018. Variance-ratio test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). In Statistical Methods in Medical Research. Springer: Singapore. pp. 95–109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0827-7_12

[15] Roy, A., 2006. Estimating correlation coefficient between two variables with repeated observations using mixed effects model. Biometrical Journal. 48(2), 286–301. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bimj.200510192

[16] Meerow, A.W., 1994. Growth of two subtropical ornamentals using coir (coconut mesocarp pith) as a peat substitute. HortScience. 29(12), 1484–1486.

[17] Martinez, A. de, Labib, S.M., 2023. Demystifying normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for greenness exposure assessments and policy interventions in urban greening. Environmental Research. 220, 115155–115167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.115155

[18] Hodgart, R.L., 1978. Optimizing access to public services: A review of problems, models and methods of locating central facilities. Progress in Human Geography. 2(1), 17–48. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/030913257800200103

[19] Crini, G., Lichtfouse, E., 2018. Advantages and disadvantages of techniques used for wastewater treatment. Environmental Chemistry Letters. 17(1), 145–155. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-018-0785-9

[20] Felce, D., Perry, J., 1995. Quality of life: Its definition and measurement. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 16(1), 51–74. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0891-4222(94)00028-8

[21] Cobb, C.W., 2000. Measurement Tools and the Quality of Life. Redefining Progress: San Francisco, CA, USA. p. 32.

[22] Nutakor, J.A., Zhou, L., Larnyo, E., et al., 2023. Socioeconomic status and quality of life: An assessment of the mediating effect of social capital. Healthcare. 11(5), 749. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11050749

[23] Willms, J.D., 2003. Literacy proficiency of youth: Evidence of converging socioeconomic gradients. International Journal of Educational Research. 39(3), 247–252. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2004.04.005

[24] Bilevičienė, T., Bilevičiūtė, E., Drakšas, R., 2016. Employment as a factor of life quality. Journal of International Studies. 9(3), 203–216. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14254/2071-8330.2016/9-3/16

[25] Saini, R., Shrivastava, V., 2024. Prediction of drinking water quality for effective public health management to avoid water borne diseases. South Eastern European Journal of Public Health. 23(2), 292–296. DOI: https://doi.org/10.70135/seejph.vi.789

[26] Kerr, C., 1990. Community Health and Sanitation. IT Publications: London, UK. pp. 309–317.

[27] Bally, M., Marshall, S., 2009. Centenary paper: The evolution of cities: Geddes, Abercrombie and the new physicalism. The Town Planning Review. 80(6), 551–574

[28] Christensen, T.H., 2010. Introduction to waste management. In Solid Waste Technology & Management. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: Hoboken, NJ, USA. pp. 1–16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470666883.ch1

[29] Tang, J., Inkpen, K., Luff, P., et al., 2022. Living through a crisis: How covid-19 has transformed the way we work, live, and research. Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). 32(2), 211–213. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10606-022-09452-5

[30] Ullah, N., 2020. The world after Covid-19. In COVID-19 Pandemic Update 2020. Royal Book Publishing: Salem, India. pp. 248–253.

[31] Negara, S.D., 2022. Covid-19 impacts and recovery. In COVID-19 in Indonesia. Routledge: London, UK. pp. 205–224. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003243670-9

[32] Anderson, J., Cumming, O., 2018. Interlocking inequalities related to water and sanitation, nutrition and healthcare access. In Equality in Water and Sanitation Services. Routledge: London, UK. pp. 196–212. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315471532-11

Downloads

How to Cite

Nishit, & Anand, S. (2026). Green Infrastructure and Socio-Environmental Implications for Urban Sustainability in North and South Delhi. Research in Ecology, 8(4), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v8i4.13111