Transit spaces are integral to the urban experience, connecting people and places while facilitating economic and social interactions. However, their design often prioritizes efficiency over user comfort, inclusivity, and emotional engagement. This article explores a human-centred approach to designing transit spaces, emphasizing the needs, behaviours, and experiences of users. Transit spaces can be not only functional but also welcoming and transformative environments if principles of accessibility, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability are integrated. This article discusses rethinking transit spaces to enhance life within cities, with a special focus on the Indian context, by highlighting case studies, theoretical insights, and best practices. The design of transit spaces—bus terminals, train stations, airports, and urban interchanges—has throughout history been based on the imperatives of efficiency, capacity, and technological innovation. These have been the drivers shaping the design; however, users’ lived experiences are often cast aside. The human-centred approach seeks to reverse this focus. It puts in the centre, as the priority for design strategy, the needs, emotions, and behaviours of individuals. This is of special significance in India, where millions cross through transit spaces daily and nodes are of utmost socio-economic importance.
Human-Centered Design: Concepts
- Knowing Human Needs
Human-centred design (HCD) is all about empathy, emphasizing the needs of users, including safety, comfort, and accessibility. Transit spaces in India will have to serve a wide range of people, from daily commuters to migrant workers, tourists, and those with disabilities. Crowded urban environments often exacerbate the problems faced by these groups, making it imperative to develop innovative and inclusive solutions.
- Behavioural Insights
Designing for human behaviour involves understanding movement patterns, dwell times, and interactions within transit spaces. For instance, railway stations in India like Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) see a high volume of pedestrian traffic, requiring intuitive wayfinding systems and organized entry and exit points.
- Emotional Engagement
Aesthetic and sensory elements significantly contribute to how transit spaces are perceived. In the Indian context, cultural motifs, local art, and green spaces can evoke a sense of pride and belonging while reducing stress in chaotic environments.
Principles of Human-Centered Transit Space Design in India
India must provide transitory spaces that are accessible to everyone, including over-crowdedness, a lack of elevators, and poor signage. For example, the Delhi Metro has made improvements in accessibility with the use of tactile paving at entry points for people with disabilities, wheelchair-accessible entry points, and reserved spaces on trains for disabled people (DMRC, 2022).
- Safety and Security
Overcrowding, theft, and poor lighting are concerns related to safety in Indian transit spaces. For women, issues of safety still exist, driving exclusive women coaches in metros and more CCTV surveillance in public places (MoHUA, 2021). Further, thoughtful design in space can even create psychological safety through less congested spaces where one can even maintain personal space.
- Integration with Surroundings
Transit spaces must harmonize with their urban and rural contexts. For example, Bengaluru’s Kempegowda Bus Station integrates with nearby commercial hubs, offering multi-modal transport options, including metro and local buses. Transit-oriented development (TOD) models are increasingly being adopted in Indian cities to create seamless connections between transit hubs and urban activities.
- Sustainability
Sustainability is a must in India, as urban transit systems often contribute much to environmental degradation. The incorporation of solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and energy-efficient materials in transit spaces, such as the Kochi Metro, serves as a benchmark for eco-friendly design. Moreover, the integration of green corridors and urban forests within transit hubs can reduce pollution and enhance user well-being.
Case Studies: Indian Examples of Human-Centered Design
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai
One of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, this station has been designed in a way that meets the heritage preservation and modern functionality aspects. Digital wayfinding tools and the segregation of distinct user groups have improved commuter experiences. Efforts to maintain cleanliness and order amidst the high traffic volumes further enhance usability.
- Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)
Delhi Metro: The best example of a people-centred transit system in India, Delhi Metro’s design takes a human-centric approach with features like separate gender-seating arrangements, conducting safety audits, and using both English and regional languages for its signage. A strong last-mile connectivity feature of this system is shown through the connection of e-rickshaws and shuttle services.
- Ahmedabad Janmarg BRTS
BRTS of Ahmedabad provides a focus on access and comfort of the users. The key elements of this include elevated platforms, real-time tracking, and separate bus lanes for better travel time without compromising user comfort and safety. The designs focus on providing equal access by making separate places available for physically disabled passengers.
- Kochi Metro
The Kochi Metro is designed to put forth two elements sustainability and cultural engagement. Stations include a touch of murals and art as a continuation of local cultures, while rooftop solar panels and water recycling systems contribute to environmental conservation. Its alignment with water transport systems further advances its integration with the city’s unique geography.
- Contributions of Prasanna Desai
Prasanna Desai is a well-known architect and urban designer who has put his intellect into designing transit spaces in India. His design and work focus on creating urban-friendly spaces, people-friendly and inclusive, in building a community or ease of movement. His work often puts the transit hub alongside public space. This results in easy pedestrian flow and more interaction between communities. Redesigning BRTS corridors in Pune highlights his work by focusing on accessibility in terms of having pedestrian-friendly paths, dedicated tracks for cyclists, and engaging public spaces which make them user-friendly and functional.
Issues related to Implementing Human-Centered Design in India
- Budgeting Issues
High costs for retrofitting existing infrastructure and implementing advanced design solutions are some of the challenges that prevent progress in India. Subsidies from the government and public-private partnerships can help mitigate such challenges.
- Balance Efficiency with Experience
Transit spaces in India frequently face the need to balance the maximization of efficiency with user experience. For example, during peak hours, platforms become overcrowded, leaving little room for aesthetic or recreational features.
- Diverse User Needs
The Indian socio-economic environment is more diversified. This will present more demanding challenges in transit spaces: accommodating daily wage workers and business-class tourists will necessitate tailored solutions to the expectations and constraints of varied users.
Implementation Strategies for India Scenario
- Designing Participation :
Engagement with local community participants helps in deriving designs that can capture the users’ needs and aspirations. An example of a similar stakeholder engagement has already helped the improvement project of a suburban railway in Mumbai.
- Technology Integration
Ticketing, crowd management, and real-time update smart systems will increase user convenience. National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) is an attempt to integrate payment across modes, which will make commutes simpler for millions.
- Continuous Assessment
Periodic post-occupation evaluations help check on how effective the transit spaces are. For example, feedback mechanisms on the Indian Railways’ mobile app give insights into improvement.
Transit spaces designed with a human-centred approach are transformed from conduits of movement into dynamic, inclusive, and emotionally engaging environments. In India, where transit systems are lifelines for millions, adopting these principles can greatly enhance urban mobility, foster social connections, and promote sustainability. With thoughtful design and collaborative efforts, transit spaces can evolve into symbols of progress and inclusivity.
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