Inclusivity of urban transport in Mumbai : a spatial and gendered analysis

Abstract

With the growth of Indian cities, both in terms of population and in terms of geographical size it becomes essential to ensure the presence of good quality urban transport. While there is a general improvement in urban transport infrastructure it does not cater equally to all sections of society.

Transport infrastructure is created for an average individual. In many cases the image of this average individual tends to be of an able-bodied man. However, women tend to have different travel patterns than men. They travel more for care work and domestic work, and use different modes of transport. Women, including women in employment, spend more time on care work than men and consequently suffer from more time poverty. Consequently, women who live in parts of the city that may be farther from the core where employment is concentrated and may be underserved by transport could be at a double disadvantage.

This paper attempts to understand inclusive urban transport in the city of Mumbai. It studies this from a spatial and a gendered perspective. For this purpose, the study attempts to understand the current and proposed infrastructure by looking at the presence of public transport stations in the city and by analysing forward-looking urban planning documents. In addition to this, it attempts to understand the experience of women in the city while carrying out transport. Based on these analyses it attempts to understand the Affordability, Accessibility, Appropriateness, Acceptability and Availability of urban transport in Mumbai from the lens of spatial and gendered inclusivity.