Urban public transport across the developing world is in the midst of a crisis. Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Sao Paolo, Jakarta and Nairobi have grown dramatically in the past few decades thanks to migration from rural areas and natural population increase. Every new resident requires a place to live, employment and a means of getting from one to the other - be it from a jhuggie cluster to the centre or from a posh colony to an office complex.
The situation is familiar to most Delhites: it’s rush hour and you’re looking for an auto. But they all speed past with their passengers. "This city needs more autos", you mutter to yourself, "surely there’s a demand for them".