Can you imagine Delhi without its ubiquitous green and red DTC buses whizzing through traffic, or its expansive metro system? In a city as sprawling and populous as Delhi, the public transport network naturally weaves itself into the city’s identity. 

These transit systems, carrying millions across cities every day, shape our lives in myriad ways. As a communications professional working toward improving cities through evidence-based research, I spend my days immersed in numbers, research and policies. But beyond the data, public transport is the stage where everyday stories of our cities quietly unfold.

All of us have a memorable story from the metro, the bus or the local train. To spotlight these, we introduced a unique storytelling platform at Uddeshya 2025 — WRI India’s flagship event on enabling gender-responsive transport systems. 

Looking to celebrate public transport through lived experiences, “Sutradhaar” (Narrator) encouraged participants to present their stories through various art forms, including slam poetry, songs, stand-up comedy, short films and plays.  

The audience — transport planners, policymakers, artists, students and everyday commuters — laughed, teared up and nodded in recognition as these stories unfolded. The applause wasn’t just for the performers; it was an acknowledgment of the shared experience of being part of India’s public transport ecosystem.

For us at WRI India, these voices reinforced the importance of building transport systems that are not only efficient and green but also inclusive, comforting and rooted in the concept of “mobility of care.”

Stories that Moved Us

Best Poem

A Coach of Hope 
by Kanchan Gandhi

Kanchan Gandhi reciting her poem ‘A Coach of Hope’.
Kanchan Gandhi recited her poem ‘A Coach of Hope’. Photo by Korero Creative House/WRI India.

In her evocative poem, Kanchan Gandhi celebrated the quiet revolution unfolding in the women’s coach of the Delhi metro. Here, she said, every journey was a symbol of progress — of women stepping out of traditional boundaries to chase education, jobs, dreams and freedom. Her verses painted the metro coach as a space of quiet empowerment, where everyday travel mirrored the larger movement of women redefining their roles in society.

Best Prose

From Honking Horns to Peaceful Rides 
by Monica Sree Yarlagadda

Monica Sree’s story captured a moment of personal revelation. Stuck in exhausting traffic one evening, she noticed a city bus cruising smoothly in its dedicated lane. Inside, passengers sat relaxed — reading, chatting, enjoying the ride — while she fumed in her car. This brief observation sparked a profound question: was she trapped not just in traffic but in her own mobility choices and beliefs? Her story was a quiet reminder of how public transport offers not just convenience, but peace of mind and freedom from stressful commutes in private vehicles.

Best Short Film 

Safar by Haridra Bora

Haridra Bora’s short film Safar followed the journey of a young woman adjusting to life in a big city. At first, the unfamiliar streets and distances felt daunting — but the Delhi Metro soon became her silent companion, a constant presence on her path to self-discovery and independence. The film subtly conveyed how public transport systems can become allies in achieving our dreams and embracing new beginnings.

Why These Stories Matter

Not too long ago, I read a line that became the raison d'être for Sutradhaar — “data drives policies, but stories move people.” Through this initiative, we wanted to take a step aside from data-intensive work and hear real stories of how people experience these transport systems. 

1. Humanizing Public Transport: Through personal tales, we were reminded that behind every policy or data point is a person navigating the city in their own way.

2. Building Community Engagement: It provided a platform to share lived experiences, encouraging people to see themselves as active stakeholders in shaping our transport systems.

3. Highlighting Inclusivity and Diversity: The stories reflected the diversity of those who use buses and metros and were a powerful reminder that a good public transport network must work for everyone.

4. Inspiring Change Through Art: It demonstrated art’s pivotal role in fostering social discourse on issues that define the collective experience of our cities.

Initiatives such as “Sutradhaar” serve as a refreshing and powerful reminder of just how critical our work toward creating a better public transport system is. It also underlines the quiet impact of open discourses like “Namma Raste” (Our Streets) that inform city dwellers from all walks of life on how their mobility infrastructure should shape up to become more inclusive, accessible and comfortable for all. We are looking forward to enabling more impactful changes to help people move more freely, safely and economically.