This session of SOCIAL will feature two scholars with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, beginning with a lightning talk by Vipul Parmar followed by a main talk by Arnab Jana.
Lightning talk – The Journey Matters: How walkability challenges shape walking experiences around transit stations in Mumbai
Walking is a primary mode of transport for millions in the Global South, particularly around high-capacity transit systems. Our study focuses on walking experiences near Mumbai’s suburban railway stations, using Andheri and Ghatkopar as case areas. It highlights how built-environment quality and perceived safety strongly influence pedestrian experiences, with features such as continuous sidewalks and safe crossings playing a critical role. The insights emphasize the importance of localized, context-specific pedestrian interventions and the need to consider both physical infrastructure and human perceptions when improving walkability around transit hubs.
Main talk – The Walkability Gap in Indian Metro Cities: Perception of Mumbai Transit Station
Walking remains a fundamental mode of transport for a large share of urban populations, particularly in Indian cities such as Mumbai, where it is often a necessity rather than a choice. In a dense and highly congested urban environment, walking forms a critical first- and last-mile connection to the suburban railway and metro systems that underpin daily mobility. Pedestrian experiences in these transit-oriented areas are strongly shaped by built-environment conditions and perceptions of safety. Factors such as sidewalk continuity, safe crossings, and overall streetscape quality play a decisive role in influencing pedestrian comfort, usability, and walking behavior around transit hubs.
*Please note: this is an online event. Zoom details will be sent to registrants closer to the session*
About the speakers
Arnab Jana is an architect and urban planner, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. His work focuses on accessibility to public services and urban infrastructure—including transit stations, public health facilities, parks, and open spaces—with an emphasis on enhancing urban quality of life through inclusive habitat planning. He examines urban and related policies to understand and mitigate access gaps, integrating urban analytics with planning to improve equity and efficiency in cities. His areas of interest include location–allocation modelling, accessibility to health and transport facilities, and the evaluation of urban policies. His work also explores how emerging technologies, mobile platforms, and ICT tools can reduce social exclusion by improving access to services while supporting evidence-based urban planning.
Vipul Parmar is a civil engineer and urban and regional planner. He is currently a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, specializing at the intersection of urban development and informatics. His research focuses on urban perception and spatial mapping, using data-driven approaches to understand how people experience and interact with the built environment. By bridging traditional planning processes with cutting-edge technologies—including immersive analytics and ICT-based metrics—his work integrates advanced computational methods into urban planning to create more intuitive and responsive urban spaces. His research explores how technology can be leveraged to measure and enhance urban quality of life.
