Rane, Patel, Patil, Kulkarni, Bhushan and Gami – THE CHALLENGES OF DESIGNING THE RAIL NETWORK MAP-DIAGRAM AS THE CRITICAL, MISSING, TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MUMBAI (abstract) 2021

Description

This chapter examines the absence of a consolidated, well-designed rail map for Mumbai’s complex transit system—serving about seven million daily riders—comprising suburban rail, metro, and monorail operated by multiple public and private agencies across districts. The authors argue that a unified map is critical for equitable, legible transit information in a multilingual, multicultural city with diverse literacy levels. They produced a print network diagram inspired by Henry Beck’s London Underground map, adapting features to Mumbai’s specific context. Using an intercept (guerrilla usability) study with 102 commuters, they tested the map in real-world conditions. Key findings and design decisions include the utility of a station index and grid, benefits of pseudo-geographic representation, careful colour choices for colour-blind users, the importance of closure for wayfinding, and managing visual complexity and information density. The chapter documents design challenges, failures, and iterative solutions, advocating for thoughtfully designed transit diagrams as essential infrastructure for Mumbai’s mobility.