Akshara Livelihoods ’s Post

Creating a gender-sensitive public transport system is essential for building inclusive cities 🛤️ During a recent Roundtable discussion on 'Envisioning Inclusivity: Advancing Gender Responsive Public Infrastructure in Mumbai Metro', hosted by #NikoreAssociates in partnership with Artha Global, with keynote speaker Ms. Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, and moderated by our founder and economist, Mitali Nikore, we brought together esteemed voices from diverse sectors, including transport operators, research organizations, NGOs, and think tanks. The conversation highlighted the need for gender-responsive infrastructure in public transport to ensure that women feel safe and empowered while navigating urban spaces. The discussion emphasized the importance of addressing last-mile connectivity, considering gender-specific needs in the design of metro stations and coaches, and implementing initiatives that promote safety and accessibility for all riders. Key Recommendations from the discussion include 🔎 1️⃣ Enhancing last-mile connectivity is crucial for a more inclusive public transport system. 2️⃣ Designing metro stations and coaches with a gender lens can significantly improve the commuting experience for women. 3️⃣ Training initiatives for staff and leveraging technology can foster a safer environment in public transport. By prioritizing these strategies, we can work towards a public transport system that is inclusive, safe, and responsive to the needs of all users, especially women. 🚇🌍 🤝 Let's continue to advocate for gender-sensitive public infrastructure that empowers every individual in our cities. Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Mumbai Metro One Pvt. Ltd. Red Dot Foundation - Safecity Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Ltd. HARYANA MASS RAPID TRANSPORT CORPORATION LIMITED Safetipin OMI Foundation #GenderInclusiveTransport #PublicTransport #UrbanMobility #WomenEmpowerment #MumbaiMetro

🚆 Mr. Jeyakumar Iyamperumal, IRTS, Special Officer, Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) “Recognising the importance of gender-disaggregated data collection through ticketing is essential for fostering inclusive transportation planning. Encouraging the integration of gender markers on single-use tickets is a pivotal move towards promoting equitable access for all commuters. This call to action will also help with even metro rail and other transportation authorities to adopt this inclusive practice” Read the full report: https://bit.ly/EoMIChennai 📢 #UrbanMobility 🚶♂️🚴♀️ #ActiveAndSharedMobility #NammaChennai #EaseOfMoving #EaseOfMovingTN #EaseOfMovingChennai #UrbanInvestment #MobilityDialogue #SustainableMobility #ActiveMobility #SharedMobility #TamilNadu #MobilityConference #OMIFoundation #PublicTransport #SustainableChennai 

Tamil Nadu Bus Transport: A Backbone of Connectivity Tamil Nadu, one of the most urbanized states of India, boasts a comprehensive and intricate public transport network, with buses playing a central role in connecting cities, towns, and villages across the region. The Tamil Nadu bus transport system is a lifeline for millions of its residents, facilitating economic growth, and promoting regional connectivity. Fleet and Facilities TNSTC boasts a diverse fleet of buses, including standard, deluxe, and air-conditioned models, addressing different affordability levels and comfort requirements. In recent years, there has been a significant push towards modernizing the fleet with the introduction of low-floor buses, electric buses, and buses equipped with facilities for the differently-abled, reflecting a commitment to environmental sustainability and social inclusivity. Role in Urban and Rural Connectivity One of the notable features of Tamil Nadu's bus transport system is its extensive reach. In urban areas, buses cater to the needs of commuters with frequent services, connecting residential neighborhoods with industrial zones, business districts, and educational institutions. In rural areas, where other forms of transport might be scarce or non-existent, buses provide crucial connectivity that supports local economies and access to education and healthcare. Challenges and Innovations Despite its successes, Tamil Nadu's bus transport faces several challenges including urban congestion, pollution, and the need for financial sustainability. To address these issues, the government and transport authorities are implementing various initiatives such as dedicated bus lanes, GPS-enabled buses for real-time tracking, and the integration of transport services with other modes like metro and local trains. Impact on Society and Economy The impact of an efficient bus transport system in Tamil Nadu is profound. It not only enhances the quality of life by providing affordable and accessible transport options but also stimulates economic activities by connecting markets, facilitating tourism, and creating employment. Moreover, by reducing the reliance on private vehicles, the bus transport system helps in decreasing traffic congestion and environmental pollution. In conclusion, the bus transport system in Tamil Nadu is more than just a means of mobility; it is a vital component of the state's social and economic fabric. As it evolves, it continues to serve the needs of its people, ensuring that Tamil Nadu remains on the move. #snsinstitutions #snsdesignthinkers #designthinking

India's political leaders don't make it easy for citizens to go about their everyday work, in spite of the vital role that such mobility plays in achieving development and economic output. Urban Planning authorities toe the political line, and most decisions are dictated by special interests, including the speculative real estate lobbies. Recent political comments against fare-free bus rides for women show that egalitarian policy is being pitted against Metro rail because of a warped view of mobility. A combination of Active Mobility (walking, cycling and use of public transport), Buses and restraints on widespread use of Cars (ABC) (Rafael Prieto-Curiel et al, 2024) is central to reducing the chaos in South Asian cities, and, crucially, to curb carbon emissions from transport. But why are simple things being made very difficult? What avenues exist to raise more funds for public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure? I argue here that it is time to see mobility as a composite and end further investments favouring cars with long lock-in effects hostile to people and active mobility : https://lnkd.in/gBePbvNM Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority Chennai Metro Rail ITF - International Transport Forum UITP Sumana Narayanan Shreya Gadepalli UrbanWorks ITDP - India Paul Barter Ashok Leyland #urbanplanning #cities #transport #publictransport #buses #mobility #commuting #walking #cycling #pedestrians

A recent survey by Tummoc paints a concerning picture of public transport in India. With 85% of commuters dissatisfied, issues like overcrowding, unreliable schedules, and poor maintenance are driving people away from using eco-friendly public options. This is a significant hurdle considering India's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. The survey also highlights the challenges of digital integration, with commuters struggling to access real-time information and facing concerns about security and payment options. While 78% of participants acknowledge the importance of public transport for the environment, a lack of digital ease could further discourage its use. There's a clear need for improvement in India's public transport infrastructure. Until then, private Employee Transportation Management Systems (ETMs) can offer a solution for corporations looking to encourage sustainable commutes for their employees. eFmFm tackles many of the pain points highlighted in the survey by offering a complete ecosystem between employees, transport administration, cab drivers and cab vendors. eFmFm, unlike its competition, also provides extensions for vendor interface and family interface. It is customizable to unique organization needs, and does not force its customers to “One Size Fits All”. By choosing EFMFM, corporations can promote a more sustainable work culture and contribute to reducing traffic congestion and pollution in Indian cities. Read the article here: https://zurl.co/3Wav More about efefm: https://zurl.co/tIsu #Mobility #TransportationManagement #UrbanMobility #EmployeeTransportation #SmartMobility #FutureOfMobility #SustainableTransportation #CommuteManagement #SharedMobility #MicroMobility #MicroMobility #LastMileTransportation #MobilityAsAService #TransportationPlanning #MobilityManagement #EFMFM #VivekJoshi

Hyderabad Metro has recently experienced a notable decline in ridership because of the 'Mahalaxmi Scheme,' which offers free bus rides to women across the state. This initiative has resulted in fewer female passengers opting for the metro, prompting concerns from Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), the company overseeing the metro operations. L&T's president, director & CFO R Shankar Raman, expressed apprehension regarding the sustainability of the project, hinting at a potential withdrawal post-2026 should the free bus ride scheme persist. In an interview with Business Today, Raman highlighted the direct impact of free bus rides on metro patronage, particularly among women. With the absence of corresponding increases in bus services, there has been a noticeable shift towards metro usage among male commuters. While acknowledging the noble intent behind the government's initiative, Raman emphasized the adverse environmental implications of excessive bus dependency, labeling it as "unsustainable." He cautioned against making financial decisions solely based on political promises, advocating for a more balanced approach to public transport planning in a city as significant as Hyderabad. #TSRTC #MahaLakshmiScheme #TSRTCBus #BusNews #CoachBuildersIndia #FreeBusRides #TransportSolutions #SustainableTransport #Hyderabad #HyderabadMetro

🚌 In India, decarbonizing public transport is more than just buzzwords; it's an ongoing process undertaken by the Government of India (GoI) to mitigate the adverse environmental impact of rising urban mobility requirements.    By 2050, an estimated 70% of Indians are expected to live in urban areas, emphasizing the pressing need for safe, accessible, and low-emission public transport. India has already made commendable strides in this arena, with nearly 8,500 operational e-buses so far. Announced last year by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the PM-e Bus Sewa Scheme has been instrumental in driving this change. Unlike traditional schemes, this initiative prioritizes ongoing operational assistance over one-time capital expenditure, ensuring sustainable service delivery.   The impact is tangible: with 10,000 e-buses slated for deployment across 169 underserved cities, the scheme anticipates a 23% increase in bus availability, a 17% rise in bus modal share, and a staggering 6 million additional riders daily. Moreover, over 12 years, 18.3 MT (metric ton) of tailpipe emissions reduction is expected.   The Ministry Of Heavy Industries (MHI) has also undertaken the initiative of charting roadmaps to create long, short- and medium-term strategies for the scaled adoption of EVs across all modes, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers and electric buses and trucks.   Decarbonizing public transport isn't just about reducing emissions; it's about fostering inclusive, sustainable, and equitable urban cities. #WRIIndia is pleased to support MoHUA and MHI through evidence-based research and technical assistance in supporting the creation of inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities with electric mobility #SustainableTransport #Decarbonization #UrbanMobility #eBusMission #eFASTIndia #EVMatters #Worldenvironmentday 🌍🚌

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬-𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠? This is a question I’ve pondered deeply during my time with the Delhi Government. Public buses in Delhi were often labeled as "loss-making," but that simplistic narrative doesn't capture the full picture: Here's why: 1. 𝐔𝐧𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: Delhi's public buses are extremely affordable. A 20-30 km journey on a non-AC bus costs just ₹15 ($0.18), and an AC bus charges only ₹25 ($0.30). To put that in context: ➡ 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧: A single bus trip costs £1.75 ($2.29) ➡ 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐞: A trip of up to 3.2 km is $0.84, and a 30 km journey costs $1.75 2. 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨: With a population of almost 20 million, Delhi operates around 7,500 buses—that’s approximately 37 buses per 100,000 people. According to MoHUA guidelines, cities should have 60 buses per 100,000 people. However, the Delhi Metro has taken a significant portion of the pressure off buses, making this guideline less applicable. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 Public transport systems are, at their core, designed as 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 rather than profit-making entities. Their goals often include𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲. It's difficult for public transport to be both affordable and profitable, but with the right combination of subsidies, efficient operations, and partnerships, the financial burden can be mitigated. Let's recognize the value of 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 and not equate public service with "losses." After all, the larger gain lies in a 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲! #PublicTransport #UrbanMobility #DelhiTransport #AffordableTransit #Sustainability #WorkForThePeople

https://lnkd.in/gBvsEymu Sorry state of transportation managed by public entities like Indian Railways. If Indian cities are to get some relief from traffic congestion and overcrowding in public transport, drastic steps are needed to add capacity through involvement of private players in building and operating transport solutions with dedicated right of way. Public transport never could scale sufficiently and profitably. Time to rethink how mass transit is operated. Of course technologically better solutions based on automated platooning and roads is possible with a much more open system architecture. But, not feasible to work with bureaucratic business models or public enterprises like Indian Railways. Innovation is the need of the hour as it looks really shameful considering all the claims of great innovations from India and IITs. Needless to say, if government of India was operating Mumbai and Bengaluru airport to this day, instead of private players like Adani, GVK, GMR and Prem Watsa, we would have seen people falling off of airplanes as well and not just trains.😖😖😖

As Odisha embarks on its journey towards public transport transformation, Prof. G Raghuram, Member of Advisory Council, The Infravision Foundation, offers insights into the path ahead. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gThfcmgH #OdishaOnTheMove #OdishaTransport #Transportation #Innovation