Reaffirming the company’s commitment to promoting inclusive transportation, Continental has partnered with the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) to expand OnBoard, a technology solution for the blind and visually impaired. Conscience, Continental’s CSR arm, launched this project in 2023 in partnership with IIT Delhi and the Raised Lines Foundation (RLF). The purpose of this approach is to help people with visual impairments board buses securely.
After 25 BMTC buses were successfully piloted, the program has now grown to include 100 more buses, with the goal of installing 500 buses in the city overall. Making mobility accessible to everyone is the goal. At a press conference held at the BMTC Central Office, the announcement was made in front of the Hon. Karnataka Transport Minister, Shri Ramalinga Reddy.
With assistance from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, OnBoard was developed at IIT Delhi. The technology was then transferred to Raised Lines Foundation, a non-profit organization that was incubated in IIT Delhi.
By employing aural signals from a bus-mounted speaker, the device helps people with visual impairments recognize bus route numbers and locate entrance door positions, making boarding easier and more accessible.
With approval granted for the installation of OnBoard units across 500 buses, installation is complete on 401K and 401R routes and the next phase is already in progress. Production of additional units is underway with the installation of the next batch of 400 devices planned from mid-July. The full implementation is targeted for completion by August this year.
The Raised Lines Foundation, in partnership with Enable India, Bengaluru, has been doing extensive field testing of the devices with visually challenged children over the past few months.
The very positive outcomes show how well OnBoard works to promote independent bus travel. Under difficult circumstances like heat, dust, and rain, the devices’ performance held up well, maintaining steady communication for reliable data flow.
A live demonstration, interviews with the media, and a request for more robust public-private collaborations to advance accessibility and inclusion throughout the nation’s transportation networks marked the end of the launch event.
Leadership Comments
Prashanth Doreswamy, the President and CEO of Continental, expressed, “At Continental, we believe that mobility must be inclusive and accessible, it should lie at the very core of innovation. Therefore, through our CSR initiative, we aim to empower every individual with the freedom of movement. Technology has opened up a world of possibilities, and this is just a steppingstone. As a technology company, we see it as our responsibility to help shape the future of mobility, which is not just connected, autonomous, shared, and electric, but also inclusive. We are proud to work with BMTC in supporting the vision of a more connected and accessible Bengaluru.”
“This project is a flagship initiative for inclusive urban mobility in Bengaluru. BMTC recognizes that OnBoard is a crucial step towards making the city’s public transport system more accessible and inclusive, bringing it on par with other leading global cities. At BMTC, we are fully committed to this initiative and are aligning all internal efforts to ensure its smooth and timely deployment across our fleet.”, stated Ramachandran R, Managing Director, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).
“Industry-academia collaboration has always been crucial while addressing any real-world challenges, and the OnBoard solution is a testament to that. Its deployment across the BMTC network will allow visually impaired individuals to navigate public transport. At IIT Delhi, we are excited and very proud to see a technology we have contributed to making such a meaningful difference in people’s lives, bringing the benefits of inclusive design to the heart of urban mobility. At Raised Lines Foundation, our mission has been empowerment of persons with visual impairment by providing access to inclusive solutions with focus on mobility, education and independent living.” said Prof. M. Balakrishnan, Honorary Professor, IIT Delhi and Chairman, Raised Lines Foundation.
The launch event concluded with a live demonstration, interactions with the media, and a call for strengthened public–private partnerships to further nurture accessibility and inclusivity across the country’s transportation networks.
