Daily Commuting to Workplace in India: Does Gender Has Anything to Say?

Increasing urbanisation has resulted in urban sprawl, polycentric urban structures and increased spatial segregation between work and residence, necessitating daily commuting to work. Commuting is one of the major challenges, as well as an indispensable part of the day-to-day lives of urban dwellers. Challenges are more intense for women, as commuting is a gendered outcome where women have to negotiate between household chores, child care, transportation choices and location of residence, etc. Thus, while increasing commuting may discourage women from participating in the labour market, many must work in precarious economic circumstances. Some may even be fortunate to find work nearer to their residence. Thus, commuting is a critical variable reinforcing gender inequalities in access to employment opportunities. The present study investigates the district-level patterns of commuting to the workplace by gender, distance and mode of transportation in urban India. The article is based on primary and secondary data sources, such as the Census of India and a household survey conducted in the metropolitan city of Visakhapatnam. The article also suggests how to improve urban mobility policies and programmes from the point of view of gender.