Spatial segregation in a mid-size city of India: a case study of Bhubaneswar, India

This study investigates socio-spatial segregation in Bhubaneswar, India, to determine whether wealth-based segregation exists in relation to the spatial connectivity of neighborhoods. The research is organized into two main components: first, it examines the distribution of wealth across neighborhoods; second, it assesses the connectivity of neighborhoods to surrounding areas and internally, highlighting the potential challenges residents may face in accessing both external and internal amenities. To analyze connectivity, the study employs Space Syntax’s global and local integration measures, while property values are used to represent neighborhood wealth. A correlational analysis is performed to determine whether a relationship exists between neighborhood wealth and connectivity, based on the assumption that poorer neighborhoods receive less investment in infrastructure, contributing to greater segregation. Data from OpenStreetMap’s centerline road network for Bhubaneswar was imported into Depthmap for connectivity analysis, while property values for each neighborhood were sourced from real estate portals. The findings indicate a statistically significant correlation between property values and both global and local integration measures. Specifically, neighborhoods with lower property values tend to be less connected, both to their surrounding areas and internally. This highlights a pattern of wealth-based segregation and an unequal distribution of street infrastructure in Bhubaneswar.