What does this research mean for the field?

Applying a relational justice framework to transport systems in Indian cities reveals deep-seated hierarchies of power, standing, and esteem that create forms of transport injustice overlooked by purely distributive equity models. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.CHALLENGES_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine how relational inequalities—specifically hierarchies of power, standing, and esteem—are generated and sustained within urban transport systems.

August 29, 2026TransportationOpen Access

Transport (in)justice and the city: a relational analysis of transport in India

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Authors

IBIman BanerjeeTechnion – Israel Institute of Technology KMKarel MartensTechnion – Israel Institute of Technology

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Implication

Field study reveals pervasive hierarchies of power, standing, and esteem in urban communities, indicating transport justice extends beyond distributive equity.

Key Points

To examine how relational inequalities—specifically hierarchies of power, standing, and esteem—are generated and sustained within urban transport systems.
Conducted extensive fieldwork in Siliguri, India, applying a relational egalitarian framework.
Interviewed 11 institutional stakeholders, transport experts, and decision-makers.
Surveyed 400 households in urban slums and 391 shop owners situated near railway station areas.
Transport planning is dominated by elite actors and political priorities with negligible public participation, reinforcing a hierarchy of power.
Infrastructure development heavily favors vehicular roadways and flyovers while sidelining non-motorized transit, manifesting a hierarchy of standing.
Slum dwellers and small merchants face systemic marginalization as lower-status citizens, an issue exacerbated by gendered mobility constraints for women.

Cite This Study

Banerjee et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a92991a8e5d7d1fc0c10db5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-026-10815-w

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Implication

Field study reveals pervasive hierarchies of power, standing, and esteem in urban communities, indicating transport justice extends beyond distributive equity.

Transport (in)justice and the city: a relational analysis of transport in India

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Transport (in)justice and the city: a relational analysis of transport in India

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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