A multi-institutional team of researchers led by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has developed a policy framework aimed at integrating informal transport services such as autorickshaws, minibuses and shared vans into mainstream urban transport systems to improve mobility and reduce congestion.
The research, conducted in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kashipur and the National University of Singapore, proposes a regulatory framework that seeks to improve commuter experience while addressing challenges such as road congestion, environmental pollution and inconsistent service quality.
The findings have been published in the prestigious journal Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice. The study was co-authored by Dr. Atanu Bhuyan, Assistant Professor at the School of Business, IIT Guwahati, along with Dr. Abhishek Srivastava and Dr. Vivek Roy from IIM Kashipur, and Dr. Prateek Bansal from the National University of Singapore.
The researchers noted that rapid urbanisation and increasing population density in developing countries like India have put immense pressure on public transport systems, leading to widespread dependence on informal transport services for last-mile connectivity. However, the absence of adequate regulation has resulted in issues such as inconsistent service standards, safety concerns, unauthorised commercial use of private vehicles and inefficient utilisation of transport infrastructure.
To address these challenges, the research team developed a game-theoretic model that analyses the interaction between four key stakeholders—the government, an informal transport aggregator, a ride-hailing platform and commuters.
Explaining the study, Dr. Atanu Bhuyan said the framework evaluates three policy interventions: congestion pricing for private vehicles, financial support for informal transport operators and subsidies for commuters using informal transport. The model also considers commuters’ perception of service quality to understand how policy decisions influence travel choices.
According to the study, improving the quality of informal transport services through government intervention can significantly increase their usage. The researchers found that subsidies for informal transport encourage commuters to shift away from private vehicles, while congestion charges, when combined with targeted subsidies, can help reduce traffic congestion and promote more sustainable urban mobility.
The study further concludes that a combination of congestion pricing and subsidies is more effective than relying on either policy measure alone. The success of these interventions, however, depends on improving service quality and reducing the inconvenience faced by commuters.
Researchers said the framework could serve as a valuable scientific tool for governments, policymakers and urban transport planners to design evidence-based policies for integrating informal transport into city mobility networks.