PMPML Design Studio
Sarg Design Studio in a pro-bono initiative setup a design studio for Pune's Bus transport system - PMPML (Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd).
Aim was to increase bus ridership thereby increasing ride share of public transport, enhancing user experience of bus transport and making PMPML as an identity for Pune City.
Insights
PMPML moves 12 lakh passengers daily, yet remains underrated and less visible. With strong connectivity but limited passenger facing information, many shift to personal transport. Design-led communication can transform the experience and boost public transport usage. Studio setup was proposed to build capacity with the organisation and prepare them to sustainably inculcate and manage a people centric service design for the system.
Why
PMPML is the back bone of Pune city's urban transport system. Even though Metro has been built, buses will always hold the pillar of being versatile and nimble to reach corners of the city and connect the city areas to mass transit corridors like Metro. The bus systems are complex for people to understand and use, if they wish to use it beyond their regular commute. Their usage is heavily dependent on availability of reliable and live information. PMPML Design Studio aims to bridge this gap and make the organisation self sufficient to deliver passenger centric bus information.
Outcome
Yogesh did surveys, made observations, collected field data and gathered insights during his commute. Since 2009 Yogesh did surveys, made observations, collected field data, gathered insights during his daily commute. These insights and observations led to ideas of design intervention and conceptualised the setting up of a dedicated design studio in 2019. Design standards were created for bus stops, maps, bus stop information and many other passenger facing touch points. The studio setup a first-of-it-kind design studio within a public sector undertaking and received an award of 'Most Innovative Idea' by ASRTU (Association of State Road Transport Undertakings) in 2023.
The design team at Sarg Design Studio has developed in-depth understanding of bus system operations and user needs. This experience can help set up similar design studios or deliver design standards for other public transport systems.