OnBoard technology helps visually impaired passengers identify KSRTC buses in Mysuru

The adoption of OnBoard exertion among visually impaired passengers has been steadily increasing successful Mysuru, since its instauration nether the Dhwani Spandana task successful July 2025. The strategy enables users to place KSRTC autobus way numbers, making nationalist proscription much accessible.

OnBoard is simply a patented radio-frequency (RF) based exertion developed astatine IIT Delhi specifically to assistance visually impaired individuals place and committee buses. The strategy has been installed successful astir 200 KSRTC buses operating successful Mysuru City.

The Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM), a Mysuru-based voluntary organization, has trained much than 470 visually impaired persons to usage the technology. Of these, 307 individuals person collected their idiosyncratic modules by December 2025, according to Mr. Ramprasad, Officer for Research and Documentation astatine SVYM.

How the exertion works

The OnBoard strategy consists of a idiosyncratic module—a handheld instrumentality that communicates with autobus modules done vigor frequency. When users property a query fastener connected their device, it connects with the autobus module and announces the way fig done audio feedback.

Impact and usage patterns

Based connected feedback from 30 participants surveyed earlier and aft utilizing OnBoard, the strategy achieved a 24% simplification successful dependence connected chap passengers and autobus unit for way recognition wrong 9 weeks, SVYM reported.

Students and employees person emerged arsenic the astir progressive users, with the bulk falling successful the 18-30 property group. Notably, pistillate participants showed higher adoption rates, with 39% of trained women utilizing the strategy compared to 30% of their antheral counterparts.

The 5 astir often utilized routes are 303, 116, 119, 266, and 307, which service areas adjacent colleges and hostels.

“All users who shared feedback reported reduced dependence and accrued assurance successful traveling, indicating that OnBoard has important imaginable to heighten accessibility for persons with ocular impairment utilizing autobus services,” SVYM stated.

Training process

The grooming programme is simply a day-long people combining mentation and applicable sessions. Theoretical acquisition covers instrumentality operation, including switches, artillery management, and connection selection. The applicable constituent uses a backstage conveyance equipped with a autobus module, allowing trainees to signifier querying from astir 30 meters distant earlier boarding.

The OnBoard task is funded by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and implemented done collaboration among KSRTC, Raised Lines Foundation (RLF), Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM), IIT Delhi, KritiKal Solutions, and the visually impaired community.