Community rides, jazz: How two IIT researchers are encouraging public transport use

Delhi boasts an abundance of public transport options, and two young IIT researchers are championing their use. Atishay Khanna, 27, and Adwitiyaa Pramanik, 23, both working at the Transportation Research and Injury Prevention (TRIP) Centre at IIT Delhi, aim to encourage the public to embrace these modes of transport.

Their efforts began with an Instagram page, the "Ministry of All Public Transport Ever," which facilitated connections with like-minded individuals. The duo then organized weekend gatherings on Metro and bus rides, transforming the experience beyond mere conversation. Recently, they organized a "RRTS Tour" on India's fastest rapid transit and regional train system, Namo Bharat.

Khanna explains that their primary goal was not to promote RRTS as a flawless solution, but rather to discuss accessibility, benefits, and the challenges faced by those who still rely on slower, cheaper transport methods. During these gatherings, participants engage in transit trivia and form strong bonds, with many developing a newfound passion for public transport.

Some participants, like 21-year-old B Com graduate Suryaansh Chopra, find the gatherings full of zeal and warmth. For others, such as 26-year-old participant who attended a Pride-themed ride, the experience holds deeper meaning, addressing issues of identity and inclusivity on public transit.

Khanna and Pramanik also launched a website that turns Delhi's Metro lines into a live jazz ensemble, each line mapped to an instrument, with passing trains triggering notes. The website aims to spark interest in the Metro and raise awareness about the technical possibilities of public data. For Khanna, designing the website invokes memories of his uncle's work on early Metro stations and his own early experiences with the system.