An Insight into Women’s Perception of Safety in Public Transport – A Study of Metro Commuters in Hyderabad, India

In India's fast urbanizing cities, women's safety on public transit is a major concern. Although transport systems like Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd. provide speed, affordability and reach, gaps in infrastructure, security, and institutional responsiveness frequently shape the commuter experience for women. The purpose of this study is to gain insights on safety perception of urban women with respect to public transport in Hyderabad, India. This study employs a grounded research methodology to find out the structural and sociocultural barriers preventing women from fully utilizing safe public transportation. A triangulated data collection technique was used to collect three sets of data, a quantitative survey, in-depth interviews with the commuters and in-depth interviews with the administrative authorities. The researchers used a self-constructed questionnaire and administered survey on 410 women metro commuters. In order to collect qualitative data, in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with 20 women metro commuters using a semi-structured interview schedule. The third set of data was collected from Hyderabad Metro and Telangana Police authorities in order to gain insights on the existing safety system and mechanism developed by the administrative systems. The findings indicate a strong foundation in the authorities’ efforts to ensure women safety but also highlights critical gaps in implementation, awareness, and responsiveness. The study gives practical, strategic suggestions for community organizations, metro administrators, and legislators. These consist of gender-sensitive staff training, digital engagement, infrastructure improvements, and participatory safety audits. Developing metro systems that are genuinely safe and inclusive for women is essential for equitable urban development and goes beyond transit policy.