Strategic options to incentivise green mobility for gift city: a case study of metro rail

Abstract

As India’s first smart city and International Financial Services Centre, GIFT City is witnessing rapid growth in both infrastructure and workforce. With a projected expansion to 50,000 employees in the coming years, early-stage planning for sustainable mobility is critical to avoid other urban centres' environmental and logistical issues. This project explores practical strategies to encourage a shift from private vehicles to greener transport options, particularly the metro system. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study includes primary data from 295 employee surveys, stakeholder interviews, and secondary data from local authorities. The findings show that despite metro infrastructure being in place, its current usage remains extremely low, less than 1% of daily commuters, mainly due to limited connectivity and last-mile access challenges. Personal vehicles dominate, especially among white-collar workers, due to perceived convenience and time efficiency. The report offers a detailed cost-benefit analysis of different commute modes and proposes tailored incentives to support a modal shift. These include subsidised metro passes, paid leave for regular metro users, flexible work hours, and enhanced first- and last-mile connectivity. The aim is to influence commuter behaviour early in the city’s development and align urban growth with broader sustainability goals. By applying concepts from behavioural economics and sustainable transport planning, this project presents actionable insights for city planners, policymakers, and employers to create an efficient, inclusive, and eco-friendly mobility ecosystem in GIFT City.