Surat Municipal Corporation
The Pitch
Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) expanded the city’s public transportation network by adding public buses and routes that service the whole city. By making public transportation more accessible, SMC encouraged a shift to sustainable public transit.
The Problem
Surat’s residents and visitors relied on autorickshaws for transportation because the public bus system did not provide adequate service to the city and its surrounding areas.
The Process
- Expanded the Surat Public Transport network to cover villages outside of the city with populations of 5,000+
- Planned the introduction of 1,000 new buses to the city to cover 100% of the area within the city limits
- Devoted 27 pockets of land for public transit infrastructure to be developed
- Held a Stakeholder Consultation Workshop for transport planning experts, consultants, academics and governments official to hear community views and incorporate them into the plans
- Distributed a public questionnaire to gather vision statements describing what people hoped to see in Surat’s public transportation (used to inform the system’s development)
- Designed the fare structure to be affordable, with no more than 10% of a person’s income spent on it
- Implemented an automated fare collection system
- Developed sidewalks and other pedestrian infrastructure at intersections along bus corridors
The Impact
- Increased bus route coverage to every area of the city
- Improved access to public transportation for all residents by increasing availability and affordability
- Produced a positive response from residents
- Shifted users to public transit and away from private modes like autorickshaws
- Reduces environmental impact
- Creates a more interconnected, accessible city
