The Station Access and Mobility Program (STAMP), led by WRI India Ross Center and Toyota Mobility Foundation, has partnered with Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MAHA-METRO) to launch the fifth edition of its Challenge in Pune in 2021. 

Pune is the second-largest city in Maharashtra and one of the fastest-growing in India. Despite efforts to bolster the city’s public transport system, Pune is the fourth-most traffic congested city in India and its public transport share currently sits at 10%.  To strengthen connectivity across the city and in its twin city, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune Metro is set to be launched in August 2021, connecting over six lakh commuters daily. 

As the world resets from the impact of the pandemic, the time is critical for public transport to reflect on how the system can evolve and build back better. To achieve this, STAMP and MAHA-METRO are working to address how Punekars can travel safely and quickly across the city in a post-COVID era. 

STAMP will be structured as a multi-engagement initiative in Pune. Through STAMP, MAHA-METRO, WRI India Ross Center and TMF will be working on improving and optimizing various aspects of last-mile mobility at metro stations. 

Last-Mile Connectivity in Pune

A trip using the metro generally involves more than one mode of transport, especially that assist in and are critical to accessing metro services. Providing the right mix of last-mile connectivity services at each station translates into a better end-to-end commuting experience for riders. 

Previous STAMP editions in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi and Mumbai have focused on integrating metro rail networks with other modes of public transport and last-mile options through an evidence-based approach. Pilots from these cities have consistently shown that better last-mile connectivity can improve commuter experiences with metro rail.  

STAMP and MAHA-METRO will engage with last-mile operators at Pune Metro to analyze commuting data and understand how commuters in Pune choose different transit modes. As Pune Metro begins its operations, the data from the pilots will feed into a study that will provide MAHA-METRO strategies for its last-mile services, optimizing commuter safety and comfort.

The STAMP Pune Innovation Initiative

STAMP and MAHA-METRO are looking for innovators to develop a data-driven planning tool before the launch of the Pune Metro that can incorporate demographic data from Pune, as well as city mobility data on how people travel and their preferences—which will help identify potential catchment zones for the metro and inform decisions on deploying ideal last-mile services across metro stations.  

For essential workers who are required to travel for their job during the pandemic and commercial centres slowly opening, the tool will aim to provide metro operators with analysis on the best and safest way to connect commuters to homes, offices, and other activity centres from stations through the metro and other modes of transport, including buses, autos, taxis and cycles. The tool will eventually be rolled out to Nagpur as well. 

The innovators will work on:

• Analysing commuter assessment study data to understand how people in Pune travel, including factors such as origin-destination patterns, trip generators, commuter preferences, price elasticity. 

• Developing a data-based last-mile planning tool based on demand and commuter preference parameters

The tool will help operators plan for last-mile operations by:

• Establishing catchment zones around the metro
• Identifying what city trips can become metro trips, and develop strategies to shift more trips to the metro
• Proposing new routes and routes for feeder services along with cycling and walking infrastructure