BEYOND THE HONK -By Mohsinkhan Pathan

“They say you can’t take the car out of the city. But what if, for one glorious morning, you could take the cars off the road?”

That was the question that hooked me. My name is Mohsinkhan Pathan, and I work with Waatavaran on Clean Air and Sustainable Mobility Projects. This journey has reshaped my understanding of change. It’s not found in a spreadsheet, but in the relief on a delivery worker’s face, the joy in a child’s eyes on a car-free street, and the determined voice of a rickshaw driver demanding a fair shot at going electric. This blog is a collection of those moments: the personal, human sparks that are slowly but surely turning the tide toward a sustainable Mumbai.

When I first began working on sustainable mobility projects in Mumbai, I didn’t fully grasp how transformative the experience would be – not just for the city, but for my own understanding of what real change looks like. Mumbai, a city where 20% of emissions come from transportation and where roads are overwhelmingly designed for cars, seemed like an impossible challenge (https://www.reccessary.com/en/news/Mumbai-becomes-first-South-Asian-city-set-net-zero-roadmap). Yet through our work with Waatavaran Foundation, in collaboration with ASAR and the Sustainable Mobility Network, I witnessed firsthand how persistent effort, community engagement, and strategic partnerships can begin to shift even the most car-centric urban landscapes.

The Sunday Streets initiative led by Mumbai Police became my introduction to the power of experiential change. We set out to sensitize citizens about sustainable mobility, we discovered through our “Happy Street Happy Feet” perception survey of 260 people that it was remarkable. Seven out of ten Mumbaikars wanted Sunday Streets to happen every Sunday, and nine out of ten believed it should be replicated across the city. But the numbers only tell part of the story. What struck me most was watching people’s faces light up as they experienced car-free streets for the first time, children playing freely where cars usually dominated, families walking without fear, the air noticeably cleaner, the noise pollution significantly reduced. We learned that when people can actually experience alternatives to car-dependent infrastructure, their perspectives shift dramatically. Even our approach to engagement evolved; using simple games like Snakes and Ladders and Monopoly to explain the health and environmental impacts of transportation proved far more effective than traditional awareness campaigns.

Our EV Champions social media campaign taught me the importance of authentic storytelling in driving technology adoption. Rather than presenting electric vehicles as an abstract solution, we showcased real people making the transition: a BEST bus driver navigating Mumbai’s streets in an electric bus, Abhishek Mane from Pune who not only drives an EV but charges it with solar power, Mumbai’s iconic Dabbawalas who transitioned from cycles to e-bikes and saw their efficiency and income increase, and the Gilitwala brothers who convert scrapped two-wheelers into electric bikes. These four interviews garnered over 5,000 views, but more importantly, they demonstrated that the EV transition isn’t just for the wealthy or tech-savvy – it’s accessible, practical, and beneficial across diverse social backgrounds. The videography format allowed us to bust myths, provide practical demonstrations, and share expert insights in ways that resonated across multiple social media platforms.

To get glimpse of our EV champion social media campaign click on these links:

#EVchampions | BEST Bus | Public Transport | Maharashtra

#EVchampions | Zomato EV Delivery Fleet #EVstory

#EVchampions | #Dabbawala Story | #Maharashtra

Perhaps one of our most eye-opening projects was the perception study on last mile deliveries among young Mumbaikars. Surveying over 2,400 youth across Mumbai, we uncovered a generation ready and eager for sustainable change. The statistics were compelling: 88% identified bikes as the primary vehicle for last mile deliveries, 71% were aware of the Maharashtra EV Policy 2025, and an overwhelming 76% wanted delivery partners to transition to electric vehicles. When we published the study through the hands of Mr. Vivek Bhimanwar, State Transport Commissioner and held panel discussions with experts, it became clear that the demand for sustainable last mile delivery wasn’t just environmental idealism – it was a practical expectation from consumers. This finding sent a powerful message to e-commerce and delivery companies: transitioning to EVs isn’t just good policy, it’s good business.

But it was our engagement with Mumbai’s Dabbawalas that truly taught me about grassroots advocacy and systemic change. These men are an excellent model of sustainable transport, yet our survey of 220 Dabbawalas revealed significant challenges: while 92% use cycles for deliveries, 100% face issues with safe parking spaces, 75% experience reduced efficiency due to traffic, and 89% wished for separate cycling tracks. Publishing this report through Mr. Rahul Narvekar, Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, brought tremendous media attention. We then launched an online campaign with Jhatkaa.org demanding cycling infrastructure, which garnered 13,843 signatures – proof that public support existed for their cause. Our team’s direct intervention with BMC officials, including Dr. Sudhakar Shinde, resulted in designated parking spaces at Churchgate, Lower Parel, Andheri, and Grant Road. The momentum continued when IIFL Foundation partnered with us to distribute 25 electric bikes to  Dabbawalas, maintaining their zero-emission deliveries while reducing physical strain and enhancing efficiency. This journey taught me that effective advocacy requires research-backed demands, strategic media engagement, community mobilization through social media, and persistent collaboration with government officials.

The culmination of these experiences led to our work on the Maharashtra Urban Mobility Charter of Demands, developed in collaboration with Parisar and YLAC for the 2024 State Elections. We drafted comprehensive demands covering mobility plans, public health and safety, public transportation and non-motorized transport, and e-mobility. Seeing these demands incorporated into the manifestos of Shivsena (UBT) and Maha Vikas Aghadi was validation that when organizations unite with a single goal, backed by effective research and strategic networking, people’s voices can indeed reach decision-makers and influence policy.

Our most comprehensive undertaking came with the launch of the “Wheels of Change” report on World EV Day, September 9th, 2025. In partnership with Climate Research Consultancy and the Sustainable Mobility Network, we conducted extensive field surveys across Mumbai, capturing perspectives from over 1,200 auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers about transitioning to electric vehicles. The stakes were enormous: Mumbai has over 2 lakh autorickshaws within BMC limits and more than 3 lakh in the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region, with many nearing the end of their lifecycle. The report launch event at the Indian Merchant Chambers, Churchgate brought together an impressive array of stakeholders – from Transport Minister Shri Pratap Sarnaik and State Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar to Dr. Avinash Dhakane from MPCB and Madhav Pai from WRI India.

What made this event particularly meaningful was how it centered drivers’ voices while facilitating honest conversations about barriers and solutions. The panel discussions revealed critical insights: Frederick D’Sa from the Mumbai Autorickshawmen’s Union emphasized the urgency of converting aging vehicles to EVs and the need for charging facilities at bus depots with zero or negligible interest rates. Kaustubh Gosavi from WRI presented the economic case, showing how drivers earn more per kilometer with EVs and how battery swapping takes less time than CNG filling. Dr. Ratoola Kundu from TISS reminded us that electrification isn’t merely technological but deeply social, requiring us to safeguard livelihoods and ensure affordability. The expert roundtable delved into specifics: Ganesh Kore from Mahindra outlined how drivers could save up to three lakh rupees annually on fuel, Mandar Ghadge from Indofast explained the safety advantages of battery swapping with Quick Interoperable Systems, and Anirudh Amin from CPO Assist discussed how charging infrastructure ROI is actually lower than petrol pumps. The launch of Yatri Mitra, a zero-commission auto booking app by Mumbai’s autorickshaw unions, demonstrated how technology could empower rather than exploit drivers.

The extensive media coverage – from NDTV to The Indian Express, Mid-Day to Free Press Journal – amplified the report’s findings nationwide, bringing attention to the real challenges drivers face: inadequate charging infrastructure, high upfront costs, and gaps in financing options for those with low CIBIL scores. But more importantly, the event produced concrete recommendations that stakeholders committed to pursuing: zero or low-interest loans tailored for gig workers, a master plan for charging infrastructure across Mumbai, promotion of battery swapping for high-utilization vehicles, permission for electric autos in South Mumbai, and parking reforms to discourage excessive private car ownership. Minister Pratap Sarnaik’s closing commitment resonated deeply: “Policy is not enough – it must be matched by financing support, infrastructure, and above all, trust and aspirations of people. We will ensure the ecosystem grows equitably.”

Reflecting on this journey, I’ve learned that sustainable mobility isn’t just about infrastructure or technology – it’s about changing mindsets through experience, amplifying authentic voices through storytelling, empowering communities through targeted support, building coalitions across organizations, and translating grassroots demands into policy action. Mumbai’s transportation challenges remain immense, but I’ve seen that change is possible when we meet people where they are, listen to their needs, and work collaboratively toward solutions that benefit both individuals and the environment. The road ahead is long, but every Sunday Street, every electric bike, every dedicated parking space, and every policy demand incorporated into a manifesto represents a step toward a more sustainable, livable Mumbai for all.