Technology company Continental, in partnership with Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), is advancing inclusive urban mobility by expanding ‘OnBoard’—a tech-enabled solution designed to assist visually impaired commuters in boarding public transport buses safely.
Initially launched in 2023 through a collaboration with IIT Delhi and Raised Lines Foundation (RLF), ‘OnBoard’ was successfully piloted on 25 BMTC buses. With strong results and positive feedback, the programme has now scaled up to an additional 100 buses, with a full rollout planned across 500 buses in Bengaluru by August 2025.
The expanded deployment includes installation along routes 401K and 401R, with production of 400 more devices underway and installations set to begin mid-July.
‘OnBoard’ was developed by IIT Delhi, supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and later transferred to RLF, a not-for-profit incubated at IIT Delhi. The device uses a bus-mounted speaker to provide audio cues, helping visually impaired passengers identify route numbers and locate the entry doors, ensuring independent and dignified boarding.
Prashanth Doreswamy, President and CEO of Continental India, stated, “We believe mobility must be inclusive and accessible. As a technology company, we see it as our responsibility to shape a future of mobility that is not only connected, autonomous, shared, and electric—but also inclusive. ‘OnBoard’ is a steppingstone towards that future, and we are proud to collaborate with BMTC to make this vision a reality.”
BMTC’s Managing Director, Ramachandran R, emphasised the project’s significance, calling it a flagship initiative in Bengaluru’s urban mobility. “OnBoard is a vital step towards a more inclusive public transport system. We are fully committed to its deployment and are working across departments to ensure smooth execution,” he said.
Field trials conducted with visually impaired students—facilitated by RLF in collaboration with Enable India—demonstrated high efficacy and robust performance, even under challenging environmental conditions. The device maintained stable connectivity and consistent data flow, ensuring reliable support for users.
Prof M Balakrishnan, Honorary Professor at IIT Delhi and Chairman of RLF, noted the importance of industry-academia collaboration in solving real-world challenges. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see this technology improving lives. At Raised Lines Foundation, our mission is to empower the visually impaired by promoting inclusive design in mobility, education, and daily living,” he said.
The launch event concluded with a live demonstration of the system, engaging the media and public stakeholders, and reinforcing the importance of collaborative efforts to build accessible transport ecosystems across India.
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