Giving back to the unsung heroes- Indian truck drivers

Abstract

The transportation industry has been involved in trucking since the late 1800s, when the first internal combustion engine was installed. In India 63% of the total freight is transported by road, mainly by heavy duty trucks and light duty trucks carrying more than 3000mmt (million metric tons) of cargo each year. Since the past four decades the ratio of truck drivers per truck is gradually decreasing. As per multiple reports by 2022, 50% of the nation's trucks will remain unused on the roads due to a shortage of truck drivers. A radical decline in numbers of truck drivers has been suffered due to insufficient amenities and excessive responsibilities. The current trade and transportation network of India offers very few essential services to truck drivers. A distance journey demands support for truckers as they are the backbone when it comes to supplying goods, Medical care, and other essential services. This rapid decline of truck drivers in India may cause a standstill to many goods-based services in India. Hence, there is a need to address this issue. Truck drivers spend the major part of their life staying away from home. “Home is where the heart is”, this thesis aims to add just the essence of home (if not the actual home) through architecture in life of the