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Assessing the Viability of Sustainable Housing Parameters for Industrial Workers in Rapidly Urbanizing India: A Case Study of Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Author(s): Manisha Singh1, Bhanu M. Marwaha1
1Department of Architecture and Planning, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh 177005, India
Manisha Singh
Department of Architecture and Planning, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh 177005, India
Bhanu M. Marwaha
Department of Architecture and Planning, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh 177005, India

Abstract

India’s rapid industrialization and urbanization have intensified demand for sustainable and affordable housing, especially for industrial workers, a critical yet marginalized urban workforce segment. This study evaluates twelve validated sustainability parameters for worker housing in Noida, a major industrial hub in the National Capital Region. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, it combines a three-round Delphi survey of 35 experts with structured interviews of 109 workers across three industrial phases. Indicators derive from UN-Habitat’s four-dimensional framework and are operationalized as measurable survey constructs. A composite sustainability score of 33.2 out of 100 shows conditions are inadequate across social (34.2), economic (31.6), cultural (28.7), and environmental (38.4) dimensions. Affordability analysis shows rent-to-income ratios of 31.8-42.3 percent, exceeding accepted thresholds for all low-income groups. Employer housing support is nearly absent (94.5 percent), while 87.2 percent depend on single incomes, amplifying insecurity. The study proposes a planning framework linking quantified gaps to four categories of actionable policy recommendations, offering a transferable, replicable assessment tool for industrial cities across the Global South. It strengthens evidence-based policymaking by aligning worker needs with spatial planning priorities, governance mechanisms, and inclusive housing strategies to support durable urban resilience and equity in dynamic metropolitan regions worldwide.

Keywords: industrial workers, sustainable housing, Delphi method, housing affordability, urban planning, Noida
Copyright © 2026 Manisha Singh, Bhanu M. Marwaha. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.