Does Geographical Heterogeneity Influence Urban Quality of Life? A Case of a Densely Populated Indian City

Abstract

Rapid population expansion and urbanization have created enormous difficulties in maintaining the urban quality of life (UQoL) in Indian cities. Quantifying the UQoL is a complex task, due to its multidimensionality. This study empirically attempts to measure the degree of UQoL and tries to understand the geographical pattern, association, and heterogeneity of UQoL in the densely populated city of Siliguri in India. Spatial heterogeneity, in this context, is the diversity in how well people can live in various geographic units, such as neighborhoods or wards, within a city. This article evaluates the heterogeneity in UQoL using thirty-one indicators composed of seven criteria. Principal component analysis and average aggregation techniques were employed to construct the dimensional and synthetic UQoL indexes, which mapped the degree of spatial inequality among forty-seven wards. The findings revealed that Siliguri’s overall UQoL is alarmingly poor, with apparent geographic discrepancies. To further examine the spatial patterns and clusters of UQoL, an exploratory spatial data analysis approach was applied. The spatial autocorrelation using Moran’s I demonstrates a substantial clustering pattern of UQoL and other domains within the city’s neighboring units. The UQoL assessment provides evidence to assist in spatial planning and the development of sustainable urban policies.