Technology company Continental, in collaboration with the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), has expanded the OnBoard accessibility solution to over 100 city buses, with plans to install the system in a total of 500 buses. The initiative supports visually impaired passengers in navigating public transport more independently and safely.
OnBoard, developed at IIT Delhi with support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), was initially piloted on 25 buses in 2023. The technology was later transferred to Raised Lines Foundation (RLF), an IIT Delhi-incubated not-for-profit, for further deployment.
The system uses audio cues from a speaker mounted on the bus to help visually impaired individuals identify route numbers and locate entry doors, enhancing accessibility in public transport.
Speaking at the announcement event, held at the BMTC Central Office and attended by Karnataka Transport Minister Shri Ramalinga Reddy, Prashanth Doreswamy, President and CEO of Continental India, stated that the initiative reflects the company's focus on supporting inclusive mobility through its CSR program.
BMTC Managing Director Ramachandran R confirmed that installations have been completed on the 401K and 401R routes, with the next phase involving 400 additional units scheduled to begin mid-July. Full implementation is targeted for completion by August 2025.
Field testing conducted with visually impaired students in collaboration with Enable India demonstrated the system’s effectiveness, even in challenging weather conditions.
Professor M. Balakrishnan, Honorary Professor at IIT Delhi and Chairman of RLF, emphasized the role of industry-academia partnerships in addressing accessibility challenges and expressed satisfaction at seeing the technology make a practical impact.
The launch event concluded with a live demonstration and a call for broader collaboration to advance accessible mobility solutions across India.