In a step towards promoting safer and more inclusive travel options for women, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) held a meeting on Thursday with representatives from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, a German development agency funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The meeting focused on designing shared, electric, and connected micro-mobility solutions to improve gender inclusion and advance green mobility in BMTC’s services.
BMTC Managing Director Ramachandran R. said, “The German and Indian governments have entered into a strategic partnership to launch a groundbreaking initiative in India focusing on Gender in Green Mobility (GiGM) and Smart Urban Freight. This initiative, which underscores the importance of sustainable and inclusive urban mobility, is slated to commence in June 2025.”
The project, which will be designed and implemented by GIZ GmbH, was commissioned by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). According to BMTC, the initiative aims to tackle critical challenges at the intersection of gender and sustainable urban mobility while also enhancing the efficiency of urban freight systems.
The preparatory phase, led by GIZ, includes comprehensive fact-finding activities to understand the current urban mobility landscape, challenges, and opportunities with a gender-sensitive approach. Gender mainstreaming, a policy-making method that considers the needs of both men and women, will be central to the project’s design and execution.
GIZ will engage with various stakeholders and agencies in Bengaluru to promote inclusive urban mobility. The objectives include integrating gender perspectives into urban transport planning, improving accessibility and safety for women and vulnerable groups, and developing smart urban freight solutions to enhance logistics efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
“By addressing gender-specific challenges and promoting green mobility, the initiative aims to ensure safer, equitable, and environmentally sustainable transport solutions for Bengaluru,” Mr Ramachandran added.
The Karnataka government has already introduced the Shakti scheme, offering free bus travel for women on state-run buses. In addition, the BMTC has launched the Namma BMTC app, developed with funding from the Government of India under the Nirbhaya Scheme. This initiative incorporates women’s safety features, an in-bus surveillance system for city buses, and a Passenger Information System (PIS) at bus stops and stations.
Published – January 17, 2025 10:36 pm IST
