Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Monday inaugurated the Dwani Spandana service in KSRTC city buses in Mysuru, marking a significant move to help blind passengers travel independently.
“This technology allows visually impaired commuters to board buses without assistance by using specialized audio devices,” he explained. While 125 Bengaluru buses already feature the system, it has now been installed in 200 city buses in Mysuru. Plans are underway to gradually expand it to 7,000 KSRTC buses statewide.
Reddy added that all new KSRTC buses will come pre-fitted with this system at the manufacturing stage itself.
Narasimharaja MLA Tanveer Sait hailed the initiative as a forward-thinking step: “Leveraging technology to improve accessibility is vital. Public transport must be inclusive. Meanwhile, the deployment of the 500 pending electric buses in Shalthinur should be fast-tracked. Officials should also evaluate commuter needs, introduce new routes, and enhance connectivity.”
Anil, a visually impaired passenger, shared how the device has transformed his commute: “I can now board buses without help. We were trained to use it. By pressing the speaker button, we can select and identify the right bus.”
Balakrishnan, a professor at IIT Delhi, where the device was developed, noted that it solves two main challenges for blind passengers: identifying the bus route and locating the door. “With this device, they no longer have to rely on others,” he said.
MLA GT Devegowda and Pushpa Amaranath also attended the launch event.