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Study finds 13 million daily riders in Mumbai's shared auto network; Transit Tales exhibition and conference on urban mobility
A three-year study by The Mumbai Living Lab and Columbia University finds about 13 million people rely on shared autorickshaws daily in Mumbai and the MMR, with 18,000 autos on 21 routes and fares as low as ₹10. The report calls for formalisation through notified routes, fare displays, passenger monitoring, and safety measures, while highlighting driver hardships and health risks. A May 10 conference and the Transit Tales exhibition open the same day, running through May 17 at the Bajaj Art Gallery.
Why It Matters
The findings illuminate a large informal transport network that underpins livelihoods and city mobility, raising questions about safety, equity, and the potential role of formal planning in improving transit efficiency and walkability.
Timeline
4 Events
Transit Tales exhibition ends
May 17, 2026
Transit Tales exhibition remains open through May 17, concluding the May 10–17 showcase of shared autorickshaws’ role in urban mobility.
Transit Tales exhibition opening
May 10, 2026
Transit Tales, an exhibition at the Bajaj Art Gallery in Nariman Point, Churchgate, opens on May 10 to explore the role of shared autorickshaws in the MMR and examine their impact on livelihoods, infrastructure and urban mobility. The exhibition runs through May 17.
One-day conference on shared autorickshaws and urban mobility
May 10, 2026
A one-day conference discussing the ecosystem and operating model of shared autorickshaws will be held on May 10, alongside the Transit Tales exhibition opening.
Study findings on shared autorickshaws and implications for regulation
May 10, 2026
The Mumbai Living Lab, in collaboration with Columbia University, reports that nearly 13 million passengers use shared autorickshaws daily across Mumbai and the MMR. About 18,000 autos operate on 21 routes, with fares as low as ₹10. The study highlights that roughly 1–1.2 million people in Nalasopara East depend on these autos for last-mile connectivity. It notes the system is largely informal, with 20–25% of autos running illegally, and calls for formalisation through notified routes, mandatory fare boards, passenger monitoring, and safer operating mechanisms. The legally permissible passenger limit is three, excluding the driver, and the study points to transport deficits, long working hours, and health risks for drivers.