Executive Summary
This analysis estimates infrastructure costs and benefits for cycle lanes and footpath projects across 5 major Indian cities based on data from India Cycles4Change Challenge, Streets4People Challenge, and Smart Cities Mission.
52.76:1
Benefit-Cost Ratio
Average return on investment over 20-year lifecycle
31,873
Tonnes CO₂/Year
Annual carbon emissions reduction from modal shift
₹49,632 Cr
Health Benefits
20-year public health cost savings
24.8M
People Reached
Population within 300m of protected infrastructure
Infrastructure Overview
Total Planned Infrastructure
- Protected Cycle Lanes: 1,343 km
- Improved Footpaths: 2,014 km
- Total Coverage: 3,357 km
- Cities Covered: 5 major metros
- Population Reached: 66.5 million total, 24.8M within 300m
Budget Breakdown
- Cycle Lanes (₹50L/km): ₹671.5 Cr
- Footpaths (₹30L/km): ₹604.4 Cr
- Ancillary Costs (20%): ₹255.1 Cr
- Total Project Cost: ₹1,531.0 Cr
- USD Equivalent: $184.5 Million
Budget Distribution by City
Benefit-Cost Ratio by City
City Comparison Summary
| City | Population | Cycle Lanes (km) | Footpaths (km) | Total Cost (₹ Cr) | People Reached | BCR |
|---|
Detailed City Analysis
Interactive City Ranking
Click column headers to sort
| City | Population | Density (per km²) | Current Cycling % | Infrastructure (km) | Cost (₹ Cr) | Cost per Person | BCR | CO₂ Saved (t/yr) |
|---|
Economic Case for Investment
Cost Assumptions
Protected Cycle Lanes: ₹50 lakhs/km
- Physical segregation (bollards, planters, kerbs)
- Road surface treatment/resurfacing
- Lane markings and signage
- Drainage modifications
Improved Footpaths: ₹30 lakhs/km
- Paving/repaving with accessible materials
- Leveling and grading
- Tactile paving for accessibility
- Minor drainage works
Ancillary Costs: 20% of infrastructure
- Wayfinding signage
- Street furniture and bicycle parking
- Landscaping and greenery
- Traffic calming measures
- Public lighting improvements
Benefits Calculation (20-Year Lifecycle)
Carbon Benefits
- Car: ~120g CO₂/passenger-km reduced
- Motorcycle: ~80g CO₂/passenger-km reduced
- Social cost of carbon: $50/tonne (~₹4,150/tonne)
Health Benefits
- ₹10,000 per person per year for regular cyclists
- Assumes 10% of people near bikeways become regular cyclists
- Reduced healthcare costs
- Increased productivity
- Improved mental health
Modal Shift Assumptions
- Based on ITDP model from Bogotá and Guangzhou
- Modal shift from car: ~2.4%
- Modal shift from motorcycle: ~1.5%
- Average cycling: 315 km/person/year (near bikeways)
20-Year Return on Investment
National Context: Investment Comparison
Metro Rail Investment
- Since 2010: ₹20 trillion ($241 billion) invested
- Through 2026: ₹3 trillion ($36 billion) projected
NMT Infrastructure (This Analysis)
- 5 cities: ₹1,531 Crores ($184.5 million)
- Cost per person reached: ₹617 ($7.44)
- ROI: 52.76:1 over 20 years
Key Insight:
NMT infrastructure offers dramatically higher return on investment compared to motorized transport infrastructure, with benefits accruing to public health, environment, and urban livability.
Current vs. Projected Modal Share
Funding and Grant Framework
Note:
This section provides a framework for potential funding mechanisms. Actual implementation would require policy decisions at Central, State, and Municipal levels.
Potential Funding Sources
Central Government
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
- NITI Aayog Smart Cities Mission
- AMRUT 2.0 Scheme
- Green Climate Fund
State Government
- State Urban Development Funds
- State Finance Commission grants
- Road Safety Fund allocations
- State Climate Action Plan budgets
- Urban Transport Fund
Municipal Sources
- Property tax revenues
- Parking fee revenues
- Development charges
- CSR partnerships
- Municipal bonds
Proposed Grant Allocation Matrix
Tiered funding based on city size and implementation readiness
| City Category | Population | Central Share | State Share | Municipal Share | Example Cities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Cities | > 10 million | 40% | 30% | 30% | Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore |
| Metro Cities | 5-10 million | 50% | 30% | 20% | Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad |
| Tier-1 Cities | 1-5 million | 60% | 25% | 15% | Pimpri Chinchwad, Jaipur |
| Tier-2 Cities | 0.5-1 million | 70% | 20% | 10% | Smart Cities Mission cities |
Phased Implementation Approach
Phase 1 (Years 1-2)
Pilot Projects
- 5 cities (this analysis)
- Budget: ₹1,531 Cr
- Focus: High-visibility corridors
- Monitoring & evaluation framework
Phase 2 (Years 3-5)
Scale-Up
- Expand to 48 Cycles4Change cities
- Estimated budget: ₹12,000 Cr
- Network completion in pilot cities
- Integration with transit systems
Phase 3 (Years 5-10)
National Coverage
- All 117 challenge participant cities
- Estimated budget: ₹25,000 Cr
- Maintenance programs
- Behavior change campaigns
Policy Recommendations
- Secure Funding: Allocate ₹1,531 Crores for 5-city program
- Adopt NMT Policies: Cities without NMT policies should follow Chennai's model
- Technical Partnerships: Engage ITDP for design and implementation support
- Pilot Projects: Start with high-visibility arterial roads (400 km identified nationally)
- Scale Nationally: Extend to all 117 Cycles4Change participant cities
- Mandate Budget Allocation: Require 40-60% of transport budgets for NMT (Chennai model)
- Integrate with Transit: Focus on metro/bus station last-mile connectivity
- Safety Enforcement: Strengthen traffic laws protecting cyclists and pedestrians
- Achieve 20% Bicycle Modal Share: National target for megacities
- Complete Networks: Build out 3,500+ km of neighborhood street networks
- Maintenance Programs: Establish dedicated NMT maintenance budgets
- Behavior Change: Launch nationwide campaigns promoting active mobility
Data Sources and Methodology
Methodology:
This analysis uses the ITDP Protected Bicycle Lane Network Impact Model, calibrated for Indian cities based on population density, modal share patterns, and proven data from Bogotá's successful bike lane network.
Urban Transport & Modal Share
Population & Demographics
City-Specific Research
Limitations and Considerations
Cost Variability
Actual costs vary significantly by street type, existing conditions, land acquisition requirements, and local labor/material costs.
Benefit Estimates
Conservative estimates that don't include reduced congestion, decreased road maintenance, property value increases, tourism boost, improved air quality beyond CO₂, or noise reduction benefits.
Data Gaps
City-specific modal share data limited, pre/post implementation studies scarce in Indian context, and long-term maintenance costs not included.
Exchange Rates & Conversions
- Exchange Rate: $1 USD = ₹83 INR (February 2026)
- 1 Lakh = ₹100,000 = $1,205
- 1 Crore = ₹10,000,000 = $120,482
- 1 km = 0.621 miles
Document Version 1.0 | February 4, 2026 | Coalition for Active Mobility (CFAM)