Popular narratives on sustainable development of transport infrastructure focus predominantly on how successfully designed
transit stops are an important tool to improve social inclusion and urban mobility. This approach to sustainable
development treats social inclusion as a consequence of sustainable development and looks at social inclusion as a rights
issue, where everyone irrespective of gender, age, disability etc. has a right to public transport facilities. This paper proposes
an alternative way of understanding social inclusion with respect to sustainability. Rather than treating inclusion as a consequence
of sustainable development, it seeks to position inclusive approaches in spatial design as pathways and enablers
of more sustainable cities in the global south. This approach also presents social inclusion as an opportunity-provider for
sustainability as opposed to popular narratives that present it as an opportunity created by sustainable development.
Through the context of the Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) stations in Chennai, the paper shall address this
method in two parts -
1) Through existing narratives of social exclusion while navigating through a Chennai MRTS station - The space is
dissected and examined to elucidate its contribution to social exclusion of people with different identities, in its socio-economic
and political context. The resultant exclusion discourages them from using particular modes of public transport.
2) Establishing connections between the discussed social exclusion and overall usage of public transport in a city.
This is followed by a brief discussion on how eliminating this exclusion can lead to increased sustainability.

Authors: Lakshmi S