Sustainable and Green Transportation Strategies for Enhanced Urban Liveability: Quantifying Emission Reductions and Accessibility Improvements

Urban transportation systems form the backbone of modern city development, linking economic growth, environmental sustainability, and quality of life. With rising urbanization and rapid motorization, Indian cities increasingly face congestion, air and noise pollution, and escalating greenhouse gas emissions. Srinagar, the largest urban center in Jammu and Kashmir, exemplifies these challenges while offering distinct geographical and climatic attributes that necessitate context-specific, resilient, and adaptive transport planning approaches. This study evaluates Srinagar’s transportation system and explores potential pathways toward a sustainable, low-emission mobility network by simulating three progressive development scenarios: Business-as-Usual (BAU), Moderate Intervention (MI), and Sustainable Green Transition (SGT). Employing an integrated analytical framework that combines transport-demand modeling, emission estimation, and sustainability indicator assessment, the study provides a comprehensive understanding of the city’s mobility dynamics. The analysis indicates that private vehicles currently account for approximately 62% of total daily trips, underscoring Srinagar’s heavy reliance on personalized motorized transport and the inadequate performance of its existing public transit system. Average travel speeds range from 16-22 km/h, with key corridors such as Lal Chowk and Jahangir Chowk exhibiting volume-to-capacity ratios above 0.9, signifying oversaturation. Emission modeling indicates that transitioning from BAU to SGT could reduce CO₂ emissions by 27%, NOx by 19%, and PM2.5 by 29%, while improving average travel speed to 22 km/h and the Public Transport Accessibility Index from 2.5 to 4.2 stops/km². The SGT scenario further demonstrates an 18% reduction in transport energy intensity and potential prevention of 15-20 premature deaths annually linked to lower PM2.5 exposure. Beyond engineering measures, research emphasizes institutional coordination, citizen participation, and digital innovations as critical enablers of sustainable transport governance. The findings affirm that sustainable mobility in Srinagar is not only an environmental necessity but a strategic imperative to enhance public health, economic resilience, and urban livability in the Kashmir region.