Life in transit is easy in Kolkata, shows study

KOLKATA: The Ease of Moving Index, 2018, has hailed the City of Joy for being transport friendly and sustainable but on the flip side, the study has dealt a blow to some of Kolkata’s transport mainstays, including growing sense of insecurity among cyclists and reduction in width of pavements.

According to the study, conducted by Ola Mobility Institute, around 78% residents feel mobility in Kolkata has improved by a considerable extent over the last five years. The dense population of Kolkata, the index has found out, helped the promotion of non-motorized transport in the form of cycle-rickshaws and motorised mode, which includes buses, Metro and trams. Shared mobility has been the backbone of the Kolkata transport system as 73% of commuters here use public transport.




With increasing aspiration for comfort and convenience, 80% of people find the fares reasonable and affordable. The study has found out that only 32% commuters prefer public transport and 26% favour cabs. Almost 35% of the total bookings are for shared cabs, which highlights that people in Kolkata aspire for public transport to be more comfortable and convenient.

The average time spent in transit, according to the index, is 71 minutes for commuting to work places. The expenditure on transport, on the other hand, is substantially less compared to other metropolitan cities with more than 50% households spending less than Rs 3,000 per month for transportation.

Kolkata has also scored high in accessibility as almost 27% people have access to public transport in less than 5 minutes of walk and 54% within 5-15-minute walk. On the question of frequency, the city has a divided opinion — 50% wait for 5-15 minutes for a bus to arrive and the remaining spending more time waiting. Reliability of public transit, too, is an issue — 56% of people don’t find Kolkata’s public transport reliable.

The usage time of cycles and rickshaws has declined, the index shows. This reflects the increasing commuting distance. Kolkata’s citizens don’t find cycling and walking safe in the city with nearly 70% residents feeling that cycle track and pavement infrastructure should be enhanced for better last mile connectivity. This is crucial for the city as walking is still the most preferred mode to access public transport – 60% people walk to the closest public transit stop.