This document discusses auto rickshaws in Kolkata and their role in the city's transportation system. It finds that: 1) Auto rickshaws are the primary mode of transportation for about half of users and provide an affordable option. They reduce congestion by replacing private vehicle trips. 2) Their operation is organized through unions in a participatory system that is responsive to the city's needs. Unions help manage fares, routes and driver discipline. 3) Technology could support the system by improving intermodal integration, operations through mapping and GPS, and financing while being careful not to disrupt the existing arrangements.

1. Can tech supportIPT?
Musings on Kolkata’s auto rickshaws
Mukta Naik, CPR
7 April, Connect Karo2016
Supported by

2. Kolkata’smobility scenario
• Mostvaried and complexsetoftransport providers, publicand
private,and modesamongthevarious megacityregionsin India.
– Ferries
– Trams
– Buses
– Suburbantrains
– Metrorailway
– Meteredtaxis
– Auto-rickshaws
– NMT

3. Why Kolkata?
• Auto-rickshaws in Kolkata city do not usually run on metered fares.
• They ply on fixed routes with multiple passengers (usually 4-5)
• Fixed distance-wise fares determined by unions rather than regulatory
authorities.
• Operate with contract carriagepermits but nature of operation is more
like a stage carriage.
What sort ofregulatoryand operational environmentmakes this
possible?

4. Methodology
Primary
Quantitative surveys
Users (270); Auto drivers (140); Starters (24)
Qualitative
FGDs with auto drivers (40), Semi-structured
interviews with govt officials, police, etc
Route mapping
Secondary
Legal
Lit review IPT
NSS/Census
data

5. Auto rickshaws primary mode,affordable
• Primary,nota last mileconnector
or feeder
– 91%of KMC’s inhabited areas are
within 1 km of auto route
– Auto rickshaws ply on 40%of
KMC’s major roads
– Autos primary mode for nearly 50%
users surveyed
– 70%used auto daily or few times a
week, 30% occasionally
• 80%of usersspendlessthan6%
oftheirsalariesonautos

6. Environmentalbenefits
• Efficient auto system reduces
use of private vehicles; 58% of
daily auto users own 4-wheeler,
48% own 2-wheelers
• 12% of HH in Kolkata
metropolitan region own 2-
wheelers (Delhi: 38%)
• 8% of HH in Kolkata own 4-
wheelers (Delhi: 20%)
• Fuel type: LPG
• Results in emission savings to
the tune of 243 kg of CO, 1800
kg CO2 per day from not using
pvt vehicles
• Congestion benefits as well

7. Gender:Safety, convenienceresult inhigh usage
• 60:40 men to women ratio among
auto users going to office
• Workforce participation of women is
low; auto use proportionately high
• Women report fewer problems with
autos than men, report bus
overcrowding

8. Purpose oftrip vs Gender
1.08%
12.90%
3.23%
13.44%
12.37%
6.45%
8.60%
10.22%
3.23%
19.89%
4.30% 3.76%
0.54%
0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
PercentageShare
Purpose of trip
Females Males
40.32
59.68
Purpose of trip: Office
females males
85.51
14.49
82.10
17.90
0.00
50.00
100.00
males females
Work Participation Rate
Year 2001 Year 2011

9. Age& GenderProfileof auto users
2.15% 2.69%
11.29%
6.99%
18.28%
4.30% 3.76%
1.08% 1.61%
12.37%
5.38%
16.67%
9.14%
4.30%
0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
30.00%
35.00%
40.00%
<18 >60 18-25 26-30 31-40 41-50 51-60
PercentageShare
Age Group
Percentage Share of female Percentage Share of male

10. Regulationand management
• Regulation:MVA 1988, West Bengal MV Rules
• RegionalTransport Authorities-route-based permits, caps,
fitnesscertificates, PUC,etc at distt
• Day-to-day operations: Police-unioncollaboration-
controlling violations, fines, managingstands
• Resultsin a functional,responsive mobility system

11. Political
Party
Routes
Transport
Department
Union
Operator Operator
Police
PVD
Operator
Regulation Permits
AgentStarters

12. Participative,bottom up
• Unions have auto rickshaw committees
• Designatedstands, one or more unionscontrol
• Committeeshave say in fares, routes, entry/exit of stand,
scheduling, weekly offs for drivers, discipline, etc.
• Unions not recognised formally in MVA

13. Union
stand
entry and exit in
the stand,
maintenence of
the stand
fare
Fare structure/
slabs
change in fare
route
cut routes,
fractured routes
etc
operators
distribution of
work, route
daily
contributions
maintenence of
discipline

14. Responsiveto city’s needs
• Deviations, cut- and extended-routes;
rickshawunions respond touser
needs
• Durga Puja 2015: 50 routes ran
differently from 15:00 hours till early
hours the nextday during the
festival. The Commissioner of Police
exercised these powers using a
combination of acts, state
government orders andnotifications;
union auto route committees served
notices

15. SupportingIPT
• Kolkata’sauto rickshawsystem is currently responsive, well-organised,
participative; ‘low-tech’ but workable as opposed to top-down systems
• Vitalelement of city’s mobility network (Kolkata2007 CMP looks to
phase autos out)
• Must be supported for Kolkata to be able to
– Providesafe and affordable transportation
– Control emissions and congestion
– Address genderissues in mobility

16. What possiblerole for tech?
• Tech is important, but needs to be sensitiveso interventions
do not destroy inherentfabric

17. What possiblerole for tech?
• Intermodalintegration,planning
– Recognise importance of IPT, including informalities
– Dovetail land use and mobility planning; GIS mapping, modeling
and estimations
• Smoother operations
– Route mapping, info canhelp formal/informal players, GPS-based
systems?

18. What possiblerole for tech?
• Improving the system of permits- e-gov
– Leverage the intermediary role of unions to educate, connect
operators to e-gov platform
– Feedback into planning process- no. of permits
• Financingfor autos
• Training of auto drivers- safety, behaviour

19. What possiblerole for tech?
• Manage the problem of change
– Smart travel cards, token system, e-wallets
• Info systems for customers
– Trip planning apps, signages
• Grievance redressal

20. Thank youfor your patience
For queries and suggestions, contact:
mukta@cprindia.org