Role of spatial planning in improving freight efficiency

Abstract

The efficiency and sustainability of urban freight transport are paramount to the economic health and overall livability of Indian cities. With rapid urbanization, changing consumption patterns fueled by e-commerce, and the increasing integration of urban areas into global supply chains, the challenges facing urban freight are amplified. This thesis delves into the complex interplay between spatial planning interventions and urban freight operations in India. It has multiple interlinked aims: to dissect the current state of freight operations, illuminate the sources of inefficiencies, analyze the parameters shaping freight efficiency, propose policy interventions, and ultimately, craft a scalable framework to optimize urban freight performance. A thorough literature review underpins this study, highlighting the profound impact of urban freight transport on the economy, environment, and daily lives of urban residents. The review underscores the crucial role of urban freight in facilitating infrastructure development, powering manufacturing, and enabling retail activity. However, it also exposes the need to address inefficiencies, including congestion, suboptimal routing, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of integrated planning. This thesis aims to provide a comprehensive analysis and practical solutions to enhance urban freight efficiency within the Indian context. Compounding the challenges of urban freight management in India is the ambiguity regarding jurisdictional responsibilities, with various aspects of freight movement distributed across the Union List, State List, and the mandates of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). This thesis examines existing spatial planning provisions specifically relevant to freight operations, identifying potential gaps and areas for policy reform. The study meticulously analyzes challenges confronting urban freight transport in India, recognizing that these challenges can vary significantly across cities due to factors such as urban form, economic specialization, and the maturity of logistics networks. It will assess the differential impact of spatial factors and planning interventions across a diverse sample of Indian cities. The scope of this thesis encompasses a wide range of spatial planning interventions with direct implications for freight efficiency. These include land use zoning, parking regulations, road network design and capacity, regulations governing the movement of goods vehicles, public transport routes, demand assessment methodologies, congestion pricing, greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies, and other geographically driven measures. A unique contribution of this study lies in its methodology: first identifying global variables influencing freight operations, and subsequently analyzing the extent to which these are addressed in the mobility plans and master plans of Indian cities. In addition to its theoretical contributions, the thesis seeks to offer a practical framework to enhance freight efficiency across India's urban landscapes. This framework is intended to be adaptable to cities of varying sizes and characteristics, providing guidance for decision-makers and planners in the areas of policy, infrastructure, and technology deployment. The ultimate goal of this research is to support the seamless and sustainable movement of goods in Indian cities, fostering economic growth and improving the livability of urban environments.