Redefining mobility through women’s eyes: the Kochi story  

In Kochi, southern India, everyday mobility challenges silently shape women’s lives. For Dr. Shaly M O, a social work professional and local leader under the Kerala Association of Professional Social Workers (KAPS), these challenges are more than statistics, they are stories she’s witnessed up close. 

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“I have seen women and students waiting for hours at bus stops, struggling to board overcrowded buses, often unable to get in during peak hours,” she says. “These delays often result in women arriving late to work, missing important appointments, or receiving warnings from their supervisors or authorities for time management issues, despite their sincere efforts. Over time, they can hold women back from realizing their full potential.” 

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It’s this lived experience as a woman, a professional, and a community advocate, that drives her commitment to gender-responsive mobility. Dr. Shaly believes that safe, accessible, and inclusive transport systems are essential not only for moving people, but for unlocking opportunities, especially for women. 

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“Mobility is a pathway to dignity, opportunity, and social inclusion. Projects that promote freedom of movement, safety in public spaces, equal participation in decision-making, and respect in everyday life are the need of the hour.” 

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Listening as empowerment 

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Dr. Shaly led the KAPS team responsible for implementing the surveys for the MobiliseHER project in Kochi, one of three pilot cities working to promote gender-inclusive mobility in India. 

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Under her guidance, the team conducted over 2,200 household surveys and 1,200 commuter perception surveys across 17 urban zones. But for her, the most powerful impact of this process wasn’t just the data gathered, it was what the process meant for the women who participated. 

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“When a woman chooses to spend 20–30 minutes thoughtfully engaging with questions about her daily travel patterns, safety concerns, and infrastructure needs, it becomes a moment of self-recognition. Many had never been asked such questions before. This realization, in itself, is empowering.” 

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Through the act of reflection, many women began to articulate experiences they had previously internalized, from fear of walking alone after dark to the lack of public toilets near transport hubs. The survey, Dr. Shaly says, became a tool for consciousness-raising. 

“It’s not just data that is being gathered. The survey transcended its technical purpose and gave participants a voice in a space they are often excluded from: transport planning.” 

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Creating a model for inclusive mobility 

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The MobiliseHER project, according to Dr. Shaly, offers more than research; it offers a model for what participatory, gender-responsive planning can look like. 

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“What distinguishes this initiative is its layered methodology and participatory approach. It captured not just travel behaviors, but also nuanced feedback on perceived safety, comfort, and systemic gaps. It fostered valuable institutional engagement and strengthened local networks.” 

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Working closely with community groups, ward councillors, and self-help groups, the project helped build trust and lay the foundation for lasting change. 

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“MobiliseHER is a strategic intervention with the potential to drive long-term systemic change, if integrated into planning and decision-making processes with sustained commitment.” 

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Leading by example 

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As the only woman on the MobiliseHER core team in Kochi, Dr. Shaly’s leadership carried deep significance. 

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“From my perspective, including more women in leadership and technical roles is not only a matter of equity but a necessity. Women bring a leadership style that blends emotional intelligence with analytical thinking. Their presence strengthens problem-solving and ensures systems are built with community realities in mind.” 

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Her role was beyond operational; it was symbolic. It challenged traditional norms and created space for future generations to see themselves as leaders in the mobility and urban planning sectors. 

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“Technical excellence knows no gender. Representation matters, and leadership rooted in lived experience can drive meaningful, inclusive solutions.” 

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Moving forward 

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Dr. Shaly sees Kochi’s expanding metro and water metro networks as promising developments, offering safer, more reliable options for women commuters. But she emphasizes that the work is far from done. 

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“Mobility shapes access to work, education, healthcare, and participation in public life. If we want truly inclusive cities, we must build systems that reflect and respond to the realities of all users, especially those who are most often left out.” 

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Her vision is clear: a city where women are not only passengers, but decision-makers, shaping the systems they rely on every day.