Only 15% of Indian Workers Use Public Transport for Commute, NSO Survey Shows
· Automobile · Times of India, Indian Express
Only 15% of workers in India use public transport such as buses, trains, trams, or auto-rickshaws for their daily commute, according to the first-ever National Household Travel Survey by the National Statistics Office. Private vehicles dominate the commute, with 46% of workers relying on two-wheelers or cars, while walking accounts for 28.3% and bicycles for 10.7%. The survey, conducted between July 2025 and June 2026, found that an average worker spends 25 minutes reaching the workplace and incurs a monthly commuting cost of Rs 785. Men spend substantially more on travel at an average of Rs 835 compared to Rs 533 for women, with the gender gap widening further in rural areas. Student mobility follows a different pattern, with walking as the single largest mode at 37%, followed by buses at 29.5% and bicycles at 15.8%.
Why it matters
The findings highlight major gaps in urban and rural public transport infrastructure, directly informing how transit routes, scheduling, and accessibility can be optimized across India.
Read the original report — Times of India
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