MMRDA adopts gender-related findings to make Metro commute accessible and appealing to women

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA on Monday released findings from the Gender Inclusive Future Transport GIFT project an initiative supported by the UK government in collaboration with World Resources Institute India WRI India which researched the differences in the travel needs of men and womenMMRDA is aiming to increase the number of women employees working in metro operations including station controllers security staff and ticketing personnelPublic transit operations and planning around the world are increasingly datadriven and automated However there is a growing understanding that lsquogender blindrsquo data can inadvertently exclude the needs of women and other groupsWith this initiative MMRDA becomes the first metro agency in the country and one of the few metro entities globally to acknowledge the genderled variances in travel patterns decisionmaking and perspectives towards safetyWith Mumbai Metro lines 2A DahisarDN Nagar and 7 Dahisar EastAndheri East launched on the 2nd of April 2022 this is a significant step towards ensuring inclusive and sustainable mobility for allReleasing the study S V R Srinivas Metropolitan Commissioner MMRDA says ldquoMMRDA holds great pleasure in incorporating data related to gender mainstreaming into Mumbai Metrorsquos data tool This will radically change the agencyrsquos ability to understand and serve the needs of women Through this initiative MMRDArsquos Metro Line 2A and 7 is well equipped to ensure inclusive growth for MumbaiAlan Gemmel HM Trade Commissioner South Asia and Deputy High Commissioner Western India says ldquoThe UK government and Maharashtra are working together to help make public transport safer for women Todays report shows that genderinclusive mobility systems underpin growth and prosperity in the StateHarshita Jamba Senior Project Associate Sustainable Cities and Transport WRI India adds ldquoWhen a citys transport system works well for its women and children then it works well for everyone We are thankful to the metropolitan authority for its vision and leadership in adopting an evidencebased approach to making the Mumbai Metro more appealing and accessible for womenSome key highlights from Gender Inclusive Future TransportWomen as Primary Caregivers While men use the metro for work and social visits women also use it for caregiving activities such as shopping doctor visits etc About 76 per cent women and 64 per cent men reported having travelled with dependents on the metro and would want priority access at the ticketing and security along with reserved seating while travelling with dependentsSafety and Convenience Matters 78per cent of women prefer the womenrsquos coach associating it more with safety than convenienceCost of CommuteWomen who take the metro to work spend 21 per cent more money on a trip than men The reasons include expensive or multiple mode choices owing to a shortage of time a sense of personal safety accompanying dependents and undertaking multiple activities in the same trip trip chainingCashless Ticketing Preferences 35 per cent of women and 38 per cent of men purchase their tickets or cards entirely through digital modes Excluding homemakers the digital uptake of women is marginally higher than that of menPriorities for Metro Users Women recommend security better lighting and crowd management to improve their travel experience while men prioritized better amenities signage and crowding