KSRTC launches ‘Dhwanispandana Yojane’ to aid visually impaired passengers

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has taken a major step towards inclusive public transportation by launching ‘Dhwanispandana Yojane’, an initiative to assist visually impaired passengers with easier and independent mobility.

Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy launched the initiative at the city bus stand in Mysuru on Monday.

Under this initiative, audio device systems have been installed on nearly 200 buses operating on various routes in Mysuru city. These devices can be activated by visually impaired users through a remote key, which announces route numbers and other details, enabling passengers to identify their desired buses independently.

As part of the programme, 400 visually impaired persons have been trained to use these devices. During the launch, a few of them were given the user units to facilitate their easy and independent travel. A similar initiative has already been implemented in Bengaluru city, where 125 buses have been fitted with such devices.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Reddy said steps would be taken to ensure that these audio devices are inbuilt in new buses added to the existing KSRTC fleet in the future. He said the initiative has been introduced to support visually challenged persons in selecting and boarding buses safely and confidently.

The project has been taken up in collaboration with GIZ India under the Green Urban Mobility Partnership (GUMP) programme of the Union governments and Germany. The GIZ India is supporting KSRTC’s SUMACA project to improve urban mobility and transport services in Mysuru city.

The initiative has been developed by Raised Lines Foundation and IIT Delhi, with training support from the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement and the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing.

The device comprises three components: bus unit, remote, and speaker. When a visuall impaired passenger presses the ‘Find’ button on the remote at the bus stand, it scans for buses within range and announces their details. Upon selecting a specific bus using the ‘Select’ button, the information is transmitted to the bus unit, which alerts the driver and conductor that a visually impaired passenger is about to board. This ensures the bus halts safely for a longer duration, allowing the passenger to board independently without needing external assistance.

Congress MLA and former Minister Tanveer Sait, Karnataka State Guarantee Scheme Implementation Committee vice-chairperson Pushpa Amarnath, Divisional Controller (urban division) Veeresh K.T., elected representatives, and officials were present on the occasion.