Bhubaneswar: Odisha Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee, has called for placing women’s safety, accessibility and participation at the centre of urban mobility planning.
Padhee made the remarks while addressing the Shakti Summit 2026: State WCD Leadership Conclave at a Bhubaneswar hotel. She spoke on the theme, “Initiatives by Odisha towards Gender Mainstreaming in Urban Mobility.”
She stressed the need for a comprehensive women-centric approach to planning and delivering urban transport services across Odisha.
According to Padhee, mobility is not limited to travelling from one place to another. Safe and reliable transport plays a key role in enabling women to access education, employment, entrepreneurship, healthcare and social opportunities.
She said a city cannot be considered truly inclusive unless women feel safe and confident while moving around it.
Padhee highlighted several key elements of women-friendly urban mobility. These include safe public transport, accessible infrastructure, pedestrian-friendly roads, adequate street lighting, safer public spaces and convenient last-mile connectivity.
She also emphasised that gender mainstreaming should begin at the planning stage and continue through implementation and service delivery.
During the session, Padhee introduced her female driver to the audience. She presented her as an example of women entering professions traditionally considered male-dominated.
Padhee said gender mainstreaming should extend beyond policies and official documents. She emphasised that it should also be reflected in everyday life and in the people delivering public services.
She highlighted the importance of greater participation of women as drivers, transport personnel, planners, technology professionals and other service providers.
According to her, increasing women’s representation across the mobility workforce can help create more responsive transport services. It can also strengthen the sense of safety and confidence among women passengers.
Padhee also stressed the need to incorporate women’s experiences while designing urban infrastructure.
She said the most effective way to design cities for women is to listen to women themselves. She called for greater consultation, evidence-based planning and continuous feedback from women using public transport and public spaces.
She further said Odisha’s approach to gender-responsive urban mobility should form part of a broader vision for inclusive and people-centric urban development.
Under this approach, infrastructure, technology and governance should work together to make cities safer, more accessible and more liveable.
The address highlighted that gender-responsive urban mobility is not only about helping women travel safely. It is also about enabling them to participate fully in the economic, social and civic life of cities.
