REVITALISING GOA’S RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE 
Transit-Oriented Development for Sustainable Mobility

About the Winter School 

The International Winter School in Goa 2026 brings together students from architecture, urbanism, transportation planning, and related disciplines to explore the future of sustainable mobility in one of India's most dynamic regions. Over ten intensive days, participants from Germany and India will work together in interdisciplinary teams to investigate how railway infrastructure can become a catalyst for sustainable urban development, improved regional connectivity, and stronger local communities.

Through field research, expert talks, collaborative design studios, and intercultural exchange, students will analyze local conditions, explore different planning perspectives, and develop innovative proposals for the revitalization of Goa's railway network and station areas. The program offers a unique opportunity to engage with real-world challenges at the intersection of mobility, urban development, and sustainability while gaining first-hand experience of working across different planning cultures and contexts.

The Winter School forms part of a broader international research initiative investigating sustainable mobility and transport-oriented urban development. Participants will have the opportunity to contribute to an open-access publication documenting the outcomes of the program. Selected projects may become part of ongoing research activities and future collaborations between partner institutions in India and Germany

Why Goa?

Goa is one of India's most prosperous states and one of its most important tourist destinations. At the same time, it faces increasing challenges related to mobility, congestion, and dependence on private motorized transport. Despite the presence of a railway network connecting key urban centers, airports, and regional destinations, public transportation remains underutilized. As tourism and population growth continue to increase, new planning approaches are needed to create a more sustainable and resilient mobility system. The Winter School explores how railway infrastructure can support this transformation by reducing car dependency, improving accessibility, and promoting more compact and connected forms of urban development.

Concept: Railway Infrastructure as a Driver of Sustainable Development

Railways have the potential to connect people, cities, and landscapes while reducing the environmental impacts of mobility. The Winter School focuses on the revitalization of existing station areas and railway corridors throughout Goa. Working within the framework of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), participants will investigate how railway stations can evolve into vibrant urban hubs that combine mobility, housing, employment, public services, and recreational opportunities.

Expert Talks

A key component of the Winter School is a series of expert talks and discussions with leading researchers and practitioners in the fields of mobility, infrastructure, urban design, and sustainable development. These sessions are integrated into the design studio and provide students with contemporary research perspectives, conceptual frameworks, and practical insights that can directly inform their projects. By connecting local observations in Goa with international expertise, the Winter School fosters a dialogue between global challenges and site-specific design strategies.

Prof. Dr. Benedikt Boucsein, Technical University of Munich
Transit-Oriented Development: Railway Infrastructure as a Catalyst for Sustainable Urban Transformation

Dr. Tanu Priya Uteng, Institute of Transport Economics, Norway
Caring Cities: Reimagining Urban Futures Through Connected Infrastructure, Inclusion, and Everyday Life

Prof. Dr. Cassidy Johnson, University College London
Designing Mobility Futures under Climate Uncertainty: Disaster Risk Reduction in Coastal Regions

Prof. Dr. Solano da Silva, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS Pilani), Goa Campus
Planning Goa: Land Use, Infrastructure, and the Future of Regional Development

Tahir de Noronha, University of California, Berkeley
The Development Dimension of Transit-Oriented Development

Amar Kulkarni, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
Pedestrianisation in Panaji: Linking Walking and Regional Mobility Systems

Dr. Shubayan Ukil, School of Architecture, University of Virginia
Beyond Car-Centric Planning: Rethinking Mobility and Urban Futures

Alice Lunardon, BABLE Smart Cities & URBACT, Barcelona
Transforming Railway Stations into Vibrant Urban Hubs

Spyros Koulouris, Technical University of Munich
Railway Stations as Catalysts for Sustainable Urban Development: Learnings from the RAIL4CITIES Project

Dr. Benjamin Büttner, EIT Urban Mobility, Munich
Enabling Implementation: Opportunities and Instruments of EIT Urban Mobility

Application Process

Applications are open to TUM students in Architecture (MA and BA), Urbanism, Resource Efficient and Sustainable Building, Transportation Systems, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Engineering, Ecological Engineering, Civil Engineering and Politics & Technology. 

To apply, please submit a motivation letter (maximum one page) to ayesha.mueller-wolfertshofer@tum.de by 30 July 2026. In addition to outlining your interest in the Winter School, please describe how you intend to maintain an academic and/or professional connection to the project topics and India after the program.

Module ED120062

The course has 5 ECTS.

Organisation process

Students are responsible for organising their own travel and accommodation. Following the selection process, the 15 selected participants will be invited to a dedicated onboarding session providing practical information on travel arrangements, accommodation options, and visa procedures. The session will also offer an opportunity for participants to connect with one another and coordinate shared accommodation.

Funding

Update from 07/07/2026: A BayIND Excursion Grant has been awarded and each participant will receive financial support of approximately 480€ towards travel and accommodation expenses on completion of the Winter School in Goa.