ITDP India

Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide

People Near Transit, Transit Near People

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The People Near Transit (PNT) 2026 report assesses public transport accessibility across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, providing an evidence-based analysis of how effectively the region’s transit network serves its residents.

Using GIS-based spatial analysis, the study measures the population within walking distance of bus, BRTS and Metro services, identifies gaps in frequent bus connectivity, and examines access to key destinations such as employment centres, schools, hospitals and low-income settlements.

The analysis finds that 94% of the combined population has access to at least one public transport mode within standard walking distances. However, only 21% has access to frequent bus services within a five-minute walk, a significant decline from 66% in 2019. The study identifies 16 public transport “transit deserts” where high population density is not matched by adequate service frequency.

It recommends a combination of short- and long-term interventions, including route rationalisation, improved bus frequency, better bus stop infrastructure, prioritisation of BRTS and Metro corridors, and the development of healthy streets along high-frequency bus corridors. It estimates that optimising existing bus routes and improving frequency could increase frequent transit access from 21% to 61% of the population, demonstrating the potential to improve accessibility through better use of existing resources.

The People Near Transit, Transit Near People 2026 report offers a practical evidence base for strengthening public transport accessibility, improving service quality, and building a more equitable and sustainable mobility system for the Pune Metropolitan Region.

Click here to read the publication

Bus Stops Audits in Chennai

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The resource presents ITDP India’s audit of 105 bus stops across key transit corridors in Chennai, assessing passenger information, accessibility, infrastructure, and safety. The study identifies existing gaps and provides practical recommendations to help improve bus stop design, making public transport more accessible, comfortable, and user-friendly.

Read the full report to explore the methodology, findings, and recommendations here.

The Healthy Street Dividend

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The Economic, Social & Environmental Case for Street Transformations

As millions flock to Indian cities for livelihoods, sustainable transport planning has failed to keep pace. The result is choked infrastructure, surging dependence on private vehicles, and a landscape dominated by widened roads and elevated flyovers. Chaotic parking and dangerous speeds have turned streets into hazards for anyone on foot or bicycle. But Indian streets were never meant to be mere vehicle conduits. Historically, they thrived as lively civic spaces, for commerce, casual interactions, and daily life. The flyover-first approach erased that character, prioritising moving traffic over people. Now, a reversal is underway. Across the country, cities are redesigning streets for people, backed by national initiatives. 

Global experience shows that such transformations deliver significant economic, social, and environmental returns. Cities like New York, London, Bogotá, and Singapore have data-backed evidence: pedestrian and cycling improvements boost local economies, retail activity, public health, safety, and liveability, while advancing climate and equity goals. 

Indian cities are investing in street infrastructure, yet the case for such investment remains poorly evidenced in the Indian context. This study fills that gap, producing the first multi-city, multi-indicator impact assessment of Healthy Street (HS) interventions across 10 cities of varying scale and geography.  

To read publication click here

People Near Transit: Chennai

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People Near Transit: Chennai provides a data-driven assessment of public transport accessibility across the Chennai Metropolitan Area. Using the People Near Transit (PNT) methodology, the study measures the proportion of residents who can access public transport within a comfortable walking distance and identifies gaps in service coverage. The analysis shows that 61% of Chennai’s population has access to at least one public transport mode, with buses serving as the backbone of the network. However, only 36% of residents are within walking distance of high-frequency bus services, highlighting the need for service improvements and stronger first- and last-mile connectivity.

The report also evaluates access to employment centres, schools, and pedestrian infrastructure, identifying priority areas for intervention. Its findings support evidence-based planning, multimodal integration, and sustainable mobility initiatives aimed at improving equitable access to public transport across Chennai.

To read the complete report,

Click here for English and Tamil

Making Tamil Nadu’s Cities Future-Ready: Mobility, as Lived and Heard

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Making Tamil Nadu’s Cities Future-Ready: Mobility, as Lived and Heard explores the everyday realities of moving through our cities, through the voices of residents, commuters, experts, and communities across the state. This visual report captures insights, challenges, and opportunities to build safer, more inclusive, and sustainable urban mobility systems for the future.

In January 2026, the Sustainable Mobility Network held a roundtable called “Our City, Our Transport: A People’s Dialogue”. It brought together citizens, community advocates, academics, media, and city representatives from across Tamil Nadu to collectively visualise how our cities should move by 2031.

The dialogue opened with the presentation of Tamil Nadu’s Urban Mobility Priorities 2031. The Priorities are a collaboratively developed list of demands, calling for bold action on public transport, clean mobility, walking, cycling, road safety, and good governance.

Read more on the insights here

Public Transport and NMT Infrastructure Assessment for Erode, Tamil Nadu

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The study evaluates access to public transport and schools in Erode. By combining People Near Transit (PNT) analysis and on-ground situational audits, the report identifies critical gaps in bus infrastructure and Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) networks.

Conducted between October to December 2025, the assessment included:

  1. Infrastructure audits: 21 km of footpaths, 30 bus stops,
  2. Traffic studies: 25 speed-point surveys,
  3. Perception surveys: 300 school users, 500 bus users.

The report also reveals key insights on how well existing infrastructure serves vulnerable groups such as children, women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities in Erode.

To know more, read the full document here

This report was prepared by ITDP India under the Climate-Integrated Urban Mobility project by UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions).

Gender Inclusive Transport Schemes in India

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For crores of women across India, the “cost of stepping out” is an invisible tax on their livelihood. Our latest infographic, “How Women Travel and the Cost of Stepping Out,” maps the transformative impact of “Zero-Ticket” bus schemes across 8 Indian states. From a 5% jump in workforce participation in Karnataka to a structural shift in public safety in Delhi, we explore how making transit free is the ultimate strategic investment in gender equity and urban development.

Khader Nawaz Khan Road Discovery Trails

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Want to discover the newest features of Chennai’s Pedestrian-First High Street? Choose between a self-guided audio tour and a virtual tour, led by our tour guide Varsha!

To experience KNK street from the comfort of your home:

Head to Our Virtual Tour on Youtube

 

To begin the self-guided audio tour, head to the first stop on Khader Nawaz Khan Road. Once you’ve arrived, scroll down and press play on the first audio.

If you have lost your way,
or don’t have a clue,
the route map above will be there to guide you!

Happy listening!

Stop 1 / Welcome to Khader Nawaz Khan Pedestrian First High Street
Find Stop 1 on the map.


Stop 2 / KNK: A Complete Street
Find Stop 2 on the map.


Stop 3 / Essential services are now efficient services.
Find Stop 3 on the map.


Stop 4 / A place to gather
Find Stop 4 on the map.


Stop 5 / Hidden details
Find Stop 5 on the map.


Stop 6 / End and Walk Back
Find Stop 6 on the map.

Created by Tejesvini Ravi, Associate, and Donita Jose, Deputy Manager, ITDP India.
Voiceover by Varsha Jeyapandi, Senior Associate, ITDP India.
Technical inputs by Shivani Balasubramanian, Senior Associate, ITDP India.
Conceptualised by Donita Jose, Tejesvini Ravi and Varsha Jeyapandi.
Video footage shot by Ally Production.

In collaboration with Greater Chennai Corporation.

Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Perception Study on Air Pollution and Low Emission Zone Strategies

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At Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, air pollution caused by road transport is a serious public health concern. To combat this, we need Low Emission Zones (LEZ), a strategy in which polluting vehicles are discouraged through vehicle restrictions and pricing measures. But how would the people of these cities respond to this strategy?

To understand how citizens would adapt to LEZ measures, we conducted a one-of-a-kind perception study across 20 neighbourhoods in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The views of 2,000 owners of personal vehicles (two-wheelers and four-wheelers) were recorded, capturing the following insights:

  1. Citizens’ change in travel behaviour in case of a ban on high polluting vehicle 
  2. Citizens change in travel behaviour if the high polluting vehicles could be still allowed by paying a daily pollution cess, instead of banning.

To know more, read the full document here

Safe Routes to School: Visual Guides

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Interesting in advocating for safer school zones in your neighbourhood? We have resources tailored for everyone—from students to professional planners—to help you get started.

A visual guide for all ages

Looking for a simple way  to highlight the safe elements of school streets? Our Child-Friendly Poster makes the concepts clear and colourful.

Quick reference for professionals.
Need a concise, attractive overview of what makes a school zone truly safe? Download our Nifty Printable Poster for your reference.