Bengaluru transport corporation to test passenger-counting technology on 30 buses

The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation is preparing to introduce an automatic passenger-counting system on 30 selected buses to improve data on passenger movement and occupancy. The system will use sensors and onboard equipment installed at passenger doors to record boarding and alighting at stops. Software and backend systems will process the information and provide data by route, vehicle, trip, stop and time period.

BMTC has issued a tender seeking dashboards, analytical tools and downloadable reports. Officials said the information could support service planning, schedule adjustments, passenger-load analysis and the identification of overcrowded services. The technology is also expected to be integrated with BMTC’s Automatic Vehicle Location System, Electronic Ticketing Machine system and other systems where interfaces and data are available.

Passenger counts will be compared with ticketing information, including data involving students and pass holders. According to officials, the additional data source could help the corporation independently verify passenger numbers recorded by its ticketing equipment. This may be particularly useful on services used by passengers travelling under different pass categories.

The tender requires the system to achieve at least 95 per cent counting accuracy during commissioning. Counts will be checked against corresponding ETM data, and the successful provider will be responsible for calibration and corrections identified during acceptance testing. A senior BMTC official said the system might also help identify revenue losses linked to employee pilferage and passengers travelling without tickets.

Inspectors currently penalise ticketless passengers and recommend disciplinary action against conductors suspected of corrupt practices, but the corporation has not been able to control pilferage effectively, the official said. The source material does not specify when the 30-bus pilot will begin or the cost of the proposed system. It says the initiative is currently being advanced through BMTC’s tender process.