Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the radius of the influence zone, the walkable catchment, around a transit station, as defined by India's National TOD Policy, 2017, within which compact, mixed-use, higher-density growth is promoted.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is a planning approach that concentrates high-density, mixed land use around mass transit stations, metro, BRT, or rail, so that most trips can be made on foot, by cycle, or by transit rather than by private vehicle. The influence zone is the area within comfortable walking distance of the station entry or exit, fixed by the policy as a distance band rather than a single number, since it varies with station type, road network, and pedestrian infrastructure.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
India's National TOD Policy, 2017 (Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs) defines the TOD influence zone as the area within about 500 to 800 m walking distance of a transit station, since this covers the distance most people are willing to walk to reach transit within about 10 minutes.
Option (A), 300 to 400 m, is too small; it covers only the immediate station precinct, not the full catchment the policy targets.
Option (C), 600 to 800 m, and option (D), 400 to 600 m, are both partial slices of the correct band and do not match the policy's stated range.
Option (B), 500 to 800 m, matches the policy's defined influence zone exactly.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The radius of the influence zone around transit stations as per the National TOD Policy, 2017, is 500 to 800 m, so option (B) is correct.