Reorienting Metro Transportation: Attracting the Rich for Comprehensive Urban Mobility Success
Make metro systems aspirational, not just functional
Authors
India’s metro systems, while expanding rapidly, seem to not have had a visible effect on the problem of congestion on roads. Could one of the reasons be the target users that metro systems in India are designed for? Is it not comprehensive enough? Studies, such as one by the World Resources Institute in 2023, reveal that affluent users are not attracted to the metro systems in Indian cities, and prefer private transportation, due to concerns over comfort and exclusivity. In final reckoning, Indian systems are geared primarily towards middle-income users, because quite often low-income users are priced out of it. By reorienting metro services to cater to the wealthy - through premium coaches, seamless last-mile connectivity and more comfortable settings - should they be made more aspirational? Evidence from Shenzhen, China, shows that this can improve access to jobs via better mobility. It also helps to improve commuting experiences across different socio-economic groups. In effect, it helps realise the potential for metro systems to bridge urban mobility gaps when designed inclusively.
There are examples which show that appealing to all economic classes is important for metro success to create a self-sustaining ecosystem. In Singapore and Japan, metros integrate luxury retail spaces, high-quality amenities, and transit-oriented developments (TOD) that cater to upscale lifestyles while generating additional revenue streams. A 2024 study on TOD in Tianjin demonstrated how integrating land use with metro systems helped not only foster mobility, but also vibrant urban ecosystems, and also enhanced property values. The idea is to create opportunities to develop valuable real estate around stations and also offer premium services like electric vehicle hubs for first- and last-mile connectivity. This serves two aims - it not only attracts wealthier commuters but also creates self-sustaining financial models that reduce reliance on government subsidies.
Sad though it might sound, attracting affluent users also helps bring more influence and support for continued investment in metro infrastructure. It helps shift the Overton Window when it comes to urban mobility. The UITP Knowledge Brief highlights how metros in global cities reduce congestion, improve air quality, and boost economic productivity. However, to increase these benefits, it is essential that all socioeconomic groups actively use the system. More often than not, India opts for making things functional and not aspirational. One reason for this is, of course, the problem of finite resources, but like the above studies have shown, by making metros attractive for even the rich people, self-sustaining ecosystems can be created.
India, too, can create a unified transit culture that elevates public transportation standards for everyone. The idea is simple and intuitive - make the policy-makers experience the metro as their daily reality. Only then, they are likely to prioritise safety, efficiency, and innovation, leading to sustainable urban mobility; otherwise it is bound to be seen as an abstract policy concern that can be pawned off to consultants to solve.