Inclusive Planning for Women in Sustainable Indian Cities

By : Shweta Kapoor , Vidhu Bansal

Page No: 465-484

Abstract
Women remain disproportionately excluded from economic, social and spatial opportunities due to gender insensitive planning and governance frameworks, even if women constitute half of the population in cities. Historically, cities have been designed for men and by men precisely for their mobility patterns, limiting women’s access to education, employment and public life (World Bank, 2020). Equitable access to transport Infrastructure and services is important to all demographic groups of women, children, caregivers and other marginal communities, which is possible through Inclusive Urban Planning. This paper examines how mobility challenges, safety concerns, and limited representation in public spaces and transport severely constrain female labor force participation. Using intersectionality and empirical fieldwork, analysing barriers and recommendations for inclusive gender -response planning measures. Intersectionality is a term introduced to address experiences of oppression that cannot be adequately understood as the result of ordinary patterns of discrimination. The findings emphasise the importance of participatory processes, improved data systems, and contextual policies to foster sustainable cities that empower all residents. A mixed-method approach is applied for combining secondary research, field observations in Ahmedabad, and investigating through gendered experiences of public spaces and mobility. Analysis identifies six structured dimensions-Access, mobility, safety, services, climate vulnerability, and economic participation that collectively shape women’s economic participation. Critical gaps appear in gender-responsive transportation, pedestrian infrastructure, safety oriented design, government capacity and data systems. By bridging empirical insights with policy frameworks, the study proposes a pathway towards gender-inclusive planning that strengthens urban sustainability.

Authors
Shweta Kapoor, Research Scholar, School of Architecture, Anant National University, Gujarat, India
Vidhu Bansal, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, Anant National University, Gujarat, India
 

DOI: DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/NL.2025.57.04.5