Thesis – I

To study Safety of Women in Public Spaces

1. To evaluate the factors affecting Women’s safety in Public Spaces.

2. To develop an index to evaluate the levels of Women’s Safety in Public Spaces.
3. To identify unsafe spaces for Women in a neighborhood.
4. To propose safety measures for women security and comfort in designing
Public Spaces.
This study is in Nagpur. Nagpur is located at the geographical center of the country. It is an important urban
area in the Vidarbha region and winter capital of Maharashtra. Nagpur is seen as one of the rapidly
developing central India’s metro city and ranks third in the list of the urban centers in the state of Maharashtra
after Mumbai and Pune. Nagpur is the only metropolitan in a radius of 500 km in terms of population,
developed social infrastructure and services it offers. As per Census 2011 Population of Nagpur is 24 Lakhs.

Ujjain Bhopal
Jabalpur
Hoshangabad

Indore
Itarsi Bilaspur
Chhindwara Gondia
Raipur

Nagpur
Wardha
Nagpur
Aurangabad
Mumbai
Nanded
Pune
Warangal
Solapur

Hyderabad

Location of Nagpur in India Regional Context of Nagpur

Location of the Case Study in Nagpur

The Area of the delineated case study is

1.15 Kmsq.
Enclosed by 4 major roads –
1. State Highway 260,
2. Chandrapur-Nagpur Road,
3. Shaniwar Bazaar Road &
4. Pratap Nagar Main Road.
Case Study Delineation – Khamla, Nagpur
 As per Census 2011
The delineated Case
study is in Ward 118
Population – 14,920
Sex Ratio – 1023
Ward with one of the
highest Female to Male
ratio in Nagpur City
Pratap Nagar
Main Road – with Mixed
Land use buildings
Small Businesses, banks
schools etc.
Khamla Main Road –
with mostly commercial
buildings, small
business, shops, street
vendors, banks etc.
The main roads are
bustling with activities
but lack footpath –
restricting walkability
and increasing danger
from traffic. Sections of
the roads with empty
plots and wine shops
create nuisance and
Vegetable/fruit market Swami Samartha Garden Pande layout Garden
unsafe for women. on Shaniwar Bazar road
Ganesh Colony State Yogkshem Co-op Housing Old Sneh Nagar In 2019 Nagpur
Ground Highway 260 society Ground Garden Police launched a drop
facility initiative to help
women stranded at
lonely spots at night.
In 2014 NMC launched
Open Green Gym
Concept. 270 such gyms
have been set up all over
the city.
Shri Vitthal Rukmani
Mandir, Kapil Nagar -
Green gym, Garden,
Temple
Jogger’s Park -
Walking track, green
gym, children’s play
area and a football
ground
Case Study Delineation – Khamla, Nagpur
Some of the Gardens
have temples that
enable communal
interactions and often
utilized by Senior
Citizens. Some gardens
are empty and
unmaintained attract
New Sneh
with Green Gym and community hall Nagar Park antisocial elements.
 Literature Review

Aim, Objective, Scope and Limitation

Framework of Factors affecting Safety of Women

Data Collection

Structured Observation Perception Survey

Finalization of most important factors

Assigning weights and levels of Importance

Creation of Index

Application of Index to evaluate

safety levels – Case Study - Nagpur

Outcomes

Identification of Most critical factors Design Measures to

unsafe spaces affecting safety of women improve safety of women

Methodology
 Social Physical Functional Visual

Ratio of Women to Men Ease of movement Range of Activities Landscaping

Communal Interactions Sidewalk accessibility Opening hours Cleanliness

Restricted Behavior Signs Places to sit Control of Entrance Imageability

& exit
Perceived safety from Lighting quality Visibility from a
crime Street furniture Distance
Public toilets
Space Flexibility Shade & Shelter Perceived attractiveness
Connectivity
Surveillance measures Variety of businesses Vandalism
Safety from traffic
Check on Anti-Social Presence of street Perceived openness
elements Condition & vendors
Maintenance Location signage
 Social Physical Functional Visual

Arithmetic mean to aggregate the indicators into each dimension subindex

Ratio of Women to Men score Ease of movement score Range of Activities score Landscaping score
+ + + +
Communal Interactions score Sidewalk accessibility score Opening hours score Cleanliness score
+ + + +
Restricted Behavior Signs score Places to sit score Control of Entrance & exit score Imageability score
+ + + +
Perceived safety from crime score Lighting quality score Street furniture score Visibility from a distance score
+ + + +
Space Flexibility score Public toilets score Shade & Shelter score Perceived attractiveness score
+ + + +
Surveillance measures score Connectivity score Variety of businesses score Vandalism score
+ + + +
Check on Anti-Social elements score Safety from traffic score Presence of street Vendors score Perceived openness score
+ +
Condition & Maintenance score Location signage score

Geometric mean to aggregate the dimension sub indices into the Women’s Safety in Public Spaces Index
 Land use Survey

Purpose:
1. Identification of Public Spaces – (recreational & open
spaces, streets, markets)
2. Identification of Main and Supporting factors
3. Establish disparity in men and women’s perception and
needs

Online perception questionnaire

Pro Forma for Structured Observation of Public Spaces Public Space specific perception questionnaire
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