In Delhi, the notion of car ownership as the primary mode of commuting is being challenged by two young researchers, Atishay Khanna, 27, and Adwitiyaa Pramanik, 23, from the Transportation Research and Injury Prevention (TRIP) Centre at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). Their initiative aims to foster a community that promotes public transportation usage through a comprehensive, engaging approach.
Their journey began with the establishment of an Instagram account titled “Ministry of All Public Transport Ever.” This platform has enabled them to connect with others who share their passion, leading to organized weekend outings that enhance the experience of using the Metro and buses. One of their recent excursions, held on August 29, was dubbed the “RRTS Tour,” focusing on Namo Bharat, which is recognized as India’s fastest regional and rapid transit system.
Khanna emphasizes that their goal is not merely to portray RRTS as a flawless solution but to discuss its accessibility and the benefits it offers, particularly for those who continue to rely on slower, less expensive transport options. “We wanted to highlight who truly benefits from this system and the implications for those left behind,” he explains.
These community gatherings have fostered camaraderie among participants through activities like transit trivia. For attendees such as Suryaansh Chopra, a 21-year-old B Com graduate, these meet-ups have been “filled with enthusiasm and camaraderie.” He expresses newfound enthusiasm for the accessibility and cost-effectiveness of public transport, noting that his friends are often “tired” of his enthusiastic accounts of various bus routes.
For others, the experience has a profound significance. A 26-year-old participant was drawn to a Pride-themed ride in June by the promise of no erasure, as mentioned in one of the group’s posts. Initially hesitant, the participant’s perspective shifted after a conversation with a non-binary rider about the anxiety associated with commuting, highlighting the intersection of public transport and identity in discussions that often go overlooked in policy-making. “Being bisexual, I’ve felt unwelcome at pride events. These gatherings have allowed me to celebrate my queerness and love for public transit harmoniously,” they shared.
Aindri Dasgupta, 22, who is studying for her Master’s in Sociology, pointed out the Delhi Metro’s affordability and its accommodations for disabled and elderly individuals, which promote inclusivity. She considers the women’s compartment a rare safe space where she can feel at ease. “While changing the patriarchal system is a gradual process, spaces like these offer a sense of security,” she observes.
Last month, Khanna and Pramanik launched a new website, delhimetrojazz.com, aimed at raising awareness about the Metro. Inspired by a similar initiative in New York called trainjazz.com, which combines generative music with GPS data, their site transforms the nine Metro lines into a live jazz performance—each line represented by a distinct instrument, where the passing trains trigger musical notes. Due to the lack of real-time data from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), they created a simulation based on publicly available information, such as line lengths and station counts. “Our objective wasn’t to produce technically flawless jazz; a friend assisted us with the music. We sought to embody the essence of jazz, where multiple elements occur simultaneously,” Khanna notes, likening the Metro network to a musical ensemble with independent yet interconnected lines.
The website serves as an engaging entry point for individuals who might not typically engage with transit policies. For Ashwin, the platform represents a “unique perspective on public transit tracking and the infrastructure that isn’t being monitored.” He argues that such projects highlight the potential of public data and draw attention to the condition of that data and the systems it represents.
Aindri Dasgupta relates the site’s ambiance to her own experiences on the Metro, noting that the “smooth ride” combined with jazz music can help alleviate the fatigue of standing without a seat.
For Khanna, the creation of this website evokes personal memories, as his uncle contributed to designing some of the earliest Metro stations on the Yellow and Red lines. As a child, he often visited construction sites, though the significance of the project was lost on him at the time. He recalls attending the inaugural opening of the Kashmere Gate – Central Secretariat line as a young child, where Dr. Manmohan Singh was present. “Witnessing the evolution of the Metro from a construction project to a part of my daily routine remains one of my most vivid memories,” he reflects.
Pramanik’s first memory of the Metro is traveling with her mother from Karkardooma to Race Course (now Lok Kalyan Marg), captivated by the unfolding cityscape through the train window.
Upon entering the website’s experience section against a dark blue backdrop, visitors see the vibrant colors of the lines illuminate. A signal board displays the musical notes played by each passing line. By clicking ‘Start Session,’ users can hear a simulation of the Delhi Metro network, accelerated by approximately 40 times; each line is assigned an instrument that corresponds to its color. For instance, the yellow line plays the piano, violet corresponds to the saxophone, and green represents the flugelhorn. As virtual trains, depicted as dots, traverse each station, they trigger notes that blend into a cohesive jazz composition. The interactive nature of the website allows users to mute specific lines, effectively silencing instruments, enabling them to create their own unique musical renditions.
