Post by Sai Praneetha

India House 2 The Accessibility Gap in Public Transport How many people choose a cab or an auto not because public transport is unavailable, but because they simply do not know how to use it? Recently, while trying to figure out a bus route between two places, I realized that the challenge was not the absence of buses. The challenge was finding them. There may be direct routes, connecting buses, or alternative options, but discovering that information often requires asking multiple people, searching across different apps, or relying on guesswork. This matters because public transport is one of the most affordable and sustainable ways to travel. Yet, when information is difficult to access, many people choose private vehicles instead. The result is increased traffic congestion, higher travel costs, and underutilized public transport infrastructure. The issue is not that no solutions exist. The issue is that existing solutions are fragmented, poorly known, and not integrated into the daily experience of commuters. My policy proposal is simple: create a unified digital bus information platform. The platform should provide route planning, live bus tracking, estimated arrival times, and suggested interchange points across city bus services. Information should be accessible through both a mobile application and digital displays at major bus stops. Public transport should not feel like solving a puzzle. If people can confidently plan their journeys, more citizens will choose buses, making urban mobility more affordable, efficient, and sustainable. After all, a bus route that people cannot discover is almost as inaccessible as a bus route that does not exist. #StartThinkingInPolicy #PolicyChallenge #DigitalInclusion #PublicTransport https://lnkd.in/d9UjZNUe