Environmental Assessment Of UER-II In The Context Of Sustainable Urban Development

Abstract

The growth of urban transportation in megacities offers both prospects and obstacles for sustainable development. This article assesses the environmental effects of Delhi’s Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II), a recently finished 75 km expressway that serves as the city’s third ring road to ease traffic and increase connections between regions. We used a model-based approach with simulated but realistic data to look at changes in land use, air quality, noise, hydrology, biodiversity, and carbon emissions. We then compared these changes to the benefits they had for society and mobility. The results show that impermeable cover causes a 71% increase in peak runoff, localized increases in PM₂.₅ (+12.5%) and NOx (+25%), and noise levels that are up to 12 dB higher than CPCB regulations. Biodiversity losses included a ~25% drop in the number of bird species and a ~50% drop in the number of tree species. The carbon footprint was about 0.6 Mt CO₂-eq for building and 0.25 Mt each year for operation, for a total of about 6.8 Mt over 25 years. On the other hand, UER-II cut travel times in corridors by two-thirds and saved a lot of time (around ₹450 million a year). These results show that there are trade-offs between better mobility (SDG 11.2) and worse environmental effects (SDG 11.6, SDG 13, SDG 15). The report emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive mitigation measures, encompassing green buffers, wetland restoration, and low-carbon mobility options, to ensure that extensive transportation initiatives are in harmony with sustainable urban development objectives.