Recognizing the key role that public transport, particularly bus transport, plays in Indian cities, this case explores how transport agencies can better address the travel needs of the urban poor who typically have no other travel options. Slums, informal settlements within and outside cities, and peri-urban villages populated by the urban poor typically face neglect in the provision and quality of basic services, including public transport. Do services targeted at the poor help or are more systemic solutions needed? Through the collection of detailed evidence and conversations with practitioners, this case examines two initiatives of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation – the Atal Sarige, a special bus service for the urban poor and the BIG bus network, a citywide plan for direction-oriented trunk and feeder service – as different approaches to ‘inclusive’ transport planning. The case compares the efficacy of these approaches in improving access and mobility for the low-income and spatially dispersed populations in Bangalore city. The case also highlights other elements that can result in more inclusive transport services, such as bottom up local area planning and citizen participation.

About the Case Author
Radha Chanchani is a Managing Associate with the Research and Practice program at EMBARQ India of the World Resources Institute, primarily concerned with research relating to urban and transport planning and policy. She has in the past, worked on a range of consulting and research projects in these and other areas of interest, which include environmental planning, governance, economics and exploring concepts of sustainability, equity and inclusion. Radha holds a Master of Urban Design from the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi and received her Bachelor of Architecture from the Institute of Environmental Design in Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat.

Anjali Mahendra is Strategy Head for Research and Practice at EMBARQ India, a program of the World Resources Institute that focuses on sustainable cities in the developing world. She has over ten years of experience as an expert in urban planning, transportation policy, climate mitigation, and economic impact analysis in the U.S., Latin America, Europe, and India, having worked for multiple international organizations. She holds a Master’s degree in City Planning, a Master of Science degree in Transportation, and a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning, all from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.