Assessing the Role of Delhi Metro on Urban and Peri-Urban Landscape Change: A GIS Perspective

Abstract

This study offers valuable insights into the relationship between metro ridership patterns and the spatial transformations around Delhi Metro stations, underscoring the role of mass transit infrastructure in shaping urban land use and ecosystem landscapes. The primary objective is to assess how high-ridership metro stations can positively influence urban development, particularly regarding socio-economic and ecological dimensions. Integrating primary survey data with ridership statistics from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the research identifies key interchange stations, such as Kashmere Gate and Rajiv Chowk, which exhibit substantial passenger volumes. Utilising GIS-based spatial analysis and remote sensing techniques, land use changes within a 500-meter buffer zone around these stations are considered, focusing on built-up areas, green cover, and open space availability. Time-series satellite imagery generates comparative maps illustrating land use changes pre- and post-introduction of metro services. The analysis reveals that high-ridership stations are linked to significant commercial densification, particularly near Rajiv Chowk, with a p-value of 0.172. Conversely, peripheral stations like Dwarka Sector 21 indicate residential growth trends, with a p-value of 0.087 for residential areas. Importantly, two land use categories—Green Space (t = –2.33, p = 0.045) and Open Space (t = 3.57, p = 0.006)—show statistically significant reductions, highlighting the ecological impacts of metro infrastructure. The findings suggest that metro systems can promote commercial clustering in urban centres while fostering residential growth in surrounding areas. Overall, the study highlights the potential of metro systems to enhance accessibility, reshape urban ecosystems, and encourage the development of compact urban forms. The implications for urban planning advocate for transit-oriented development (TOD) as a strategic approach to manage growth, minimise sprawl, and ensure sustainable and inclusive development.

The findings reveal that major metro stations, including Kashmere Gate and Rajiv Chowk, exhibit the highest ridership levels and function as critical catalysts for commercial intensification and infrastructure concentration. Conversely, peripheral stations such as Dwarka Sector 21 and Anand Vihar reflect more localized development patterns, often characterized by the emergence of residential clusters and supportive infrastructure.

This analysis highlights the crucial role of the metro system in enhancing multimodal connectivity and transforming the urban ecosystem, thus contributing to creating a more compact, accessible, and functionally diverse urban landscape. These insights hold significant importance for planners and policymakers aiming to leverage the spatial impacts of mass transit to promote environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive urban development.