How Public Bus Systems Are Powering Inclusive Commutes

In an exclusive interview with Industry Outlook, Ramachandran R, Managing Director of BMTC, discusses how the buses in Bengaluru are deeply integrated into daily life, serving not just as transport but as a lifeline for many. He highlights BMTC’s inclusive approach, especially for visually impaired commuters, through assistive technology and a commitment to accessible, human-centered public transport.

Ramachandran is a public administrator with over 12 years of experience in governance, disaster management, education, health, and sustainable urban mobility. His expertise spans rural development, food security, election operations, and inclusive public transport planning with a focus on citizen-centric service delivery.  

What role do buses really play in a city like Bengaluru?

In Bengaluru, buses are much more than mere transportation medium. Everyone's daily existence is dependent on these transport facility. As for many families, it's the least expensive and reliable mode of transportation. I believe people possess a strong bond with our transport vehicles, according to what I have witnessed over the years. It was not merely a service to them, but instead it is deeply embedded in their everyday comfort, routine, and even sense of security. For this reason, we at BMTC refuse to think of buses as merely fleet numbers. Each vehicle signifies a person's travel and their requirement to reach their destination on schedule. This point of view influences our approach to how we design, run, and enhance the overall system. We do more than just operate buses. We are supporting lives across the city.

Why do new buses need special attention once they’re introduced?

Each time a new bus gets added to our fleet, it indicates advancement and dedication. Such automobiles frequently enhance safety features, commuting comfort, and fuel economy. However, just parking a bus inside the depot and giving it a route is not enough to add one. Staff training, maintenance team alignment, operational adjustments, and close tracking of performance in the early phases are all components of it. Onboarding a fresh employee in an organization is comparable to this. Inadequate integration might cause even an excellent asset to function inadequately. We have to handle these transit vehicles with care from the beginning because they will be used by the commuters or many years to come. By fostering this, we make certain each new development helps with the overall system and develops our objective of serving everyone with reliable public transportation.

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What is BMTC doing to make public transport more inclusive?

Enhancing accessibility for commuters with visual impairments has been one of our primary objectives. The services provided in an expanding city must change to accommodate the demands of all residents, regardless of the majority. We executed onboard assistive devices for people with visual impairments through a partnership with Rise Lines Foundation, Enable India, and Continental India's CSR program. People are now capable of commuting much more independently thanks to these gadgets. We have connected with more than 560 visually challenged pass holders and have provided 400 gadgets so far. Numerous commuters now have accessibility to a level of information that was previously not available to them.  With regard to them, the distinction is not just in convenience, but in dignity. They no longer have to figure out when the bus will show up or wait for a person to guide them. This is the ideal representation of true accessibility in transportation.

How do these assistive devices work in real-world situations?

The device's functionality can be given to its simple concept. To help them recognize which bus will be arriving at the stop, a vision impaired passenger uses a modest handheld device. The device gives out a voice notification that makes the bus number apparent as soon as users select their preferred route. The conductor and driver are informed, and both of them stop the bus and help passengers if necessary. It has already had an important effect. People have directly told us about how safer and easier traveling has become in today's date. It has raised our crew's comprehension and reaction times as well. This endeavor is about coming up with a feasible, user-friendly solution to a very real, everyday problem, not about high-end innovation.

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Is Bengaluru leading the way in accessible public transport?

From what I have researched and seen, Bengaluru is one of the few cities in the nation to have integrated this type of assistive technology into a regular public transportation system. At this scale, it has never been done before. This is a working approach that integrates technology, community collaboration, and operational support instead of being a one-time experiment. To make it possible, BMTC collaborated closely with Enable India, Rise Lines Foundation, and Continental India. This makes it unique because each participant contributed clearly without making things more difficult. It is unusual for a public transportation company to take the helm on an accessibility-first project, but we are happy to report that we did. We hope that other cities wishing to make their systems more accessible can use this as a model.

What is the vision going forward for accessible mobility in the city?

The goal we have is to bring up the number of devices in use from the current 400 to a few thousand. Anyone who needs the gadget and is visually challenged can sign up with Rise Lines Foundation or via the BMTC website. Enable India continues to provide outreach and facilitation assistance. Further, we are open to more collaborations and ideas. We are looking forward to working with new businesses developing digital inclusion, accessibility platforms, or mobility techniques. As Bengaluru expands, our transportation infrastructure and facilities must also expand. Accessibility should not be something we add later. It should be part of how we design every service. We are striving for a future in which everyone has the same access to safe and unrestricted mobility throughout the city.