Latest news with #GeneralTransitFeedSpecification
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Indian Express
Bengaluru adopts GTFS data format, paving way for seamless multimodal transit with ‘Namma Transit' launch
In a significant step towards transforming Bengaluru's public transport ecosystem, the city has formally adopted the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) through the India Urban Data Exchange (IUDX) platform. The move is significant, as it lays the digital groundwork for seamless integration across metro, bus, and last-mile services. Marking this shift, Namma Yatri launched 'Namma Transit' on Friday, a new feature within its app designed to unify bus, metro and first- and last-mile services into a single, guided journey. With real-time multimodal navigation, the feature informs users which metro station to head to, which platform and gate to use, and how to connect with autos or cabs – all in one app. 'Currently, the feature is open to only select users. In the coming days, the feature can be accessed by all of them,' said Shan M S, Chief Operating Officer, Namma Yatri. At the core of this transformation is GTFS, an open data format for public transit schedules and real-time updates, used globally in over 6,000 cities. GTFS data allows journey planners like Namma Yatri and Tummoc to combine schedules, live vehicle locations, and route maps from multiple operators into one accessible interface. For commuters, this means they can now check when the next bus or train is arriving, whether it aligns with their travel needs, and even plan onward connections with autos – all in real time. The availability of this data facilitates smarter trip planning, faster commutes, and improved last-mile accessibility. The adoption of GTFS was enabled through collaboration among public agencies and private innovators. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) IT team standardised and streamed real-time data from over 6,000 buses, sending updates every 10 seconds – a complex task that required months of technical effort and coordination. The initiative also stems from the #EnRoute Innovation Challenge, supported by World Resources Institute (WRI) India, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India, and Villgro, which brought together service providers like Namma Yatri and Tummoc to develop commuter-centric, interoperable solutions. 'When commuters can easily find cost-effective, fast, and reliable transport options, the dependence on personal vehicles reduces. Knowing exactly which bus to take, how far it is, and whether last-mile options are available – even during a rainy evening – makes public transport a dependable option,' added Shan.
The Hindu
25-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
‘When data talks, Bengaluru congestion quits': IISc scientist backs open data for seamless city mobility
The use of General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS), which has now become a global standard for public transport, has transformed how people navigate urban transit systems, said Raghu Krishnapuram, senior scientist at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and co-founder of the India Urban Data Exchange (IUDX). Speaking at the launch of the Namma Transit feature by cab and auto aggregator 'Namma Yatri' on Friday, Mr. Krishnapuram said, 'Open and interoperable data layers turn buses, metros, and autorickshaws into one seamless graph. When data talks, congestion quits.' Highlighting how such platforms make infrastructure more intuitive and accessible, Mr. Krishnapuram said that the Namma Transit feature offers an integrated app experience by bringing together metro, auto, and cab services, enabling smoother multimodal travel in Bengaluru. As part of the #EnRoute Innovation Challenge supported by World Resources Institute, India, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India and Villgro, Namma Yatri has developed this new feature. Bengaluru has now joined a select group of cities using the IUDX platform to publish GTFS data feeds from both BMTC and BMRCL. Namma Transit, currently available to a select group of users and set for a wider rollout in the coming week, provides real-time journey planning across different modes of transport. 'The app offers live tracking, platform details, and timely prompts to change modes or exit at the correct stop,' said Shan M.S., co-founder of Namma Yatri. Rethink ban on shared auto, cabs: Tejasvi Surya At the event, MP for Bengaluru South Tejasvi Surya unveiled the Mobility Blueprint 2030, prepared by Namma Yatri, which sets ambitious goals including a 70% public transport mode share, halving commute times and emissions, and building a robust multimodal infrastructure through collaboration with the private sector. Mr. Surya said, 'Bengaluru needs a dedicated transport manifesto to address its unique traffic issues. Shared autos and cabs are an economic necessity, but they are unfortunately banned here. We must rethink this.' He further advocated for allowing private operators to run buses in Bengaluru to address the shortage in BMTC services. 'The BMTC alone cannot handle the city's growing transport demands. Private bus operators must be part of the solution,' he said.
India Today
24-07-2025
- Automotive
- India Today
Can an open-data project solve Bengaluru's traffic mess?
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated July 28, 2025)Believe it or not, Bengaluru, with its public transport woes, has the second largest fleet of city buses in India after Delhi. Every day, 4.6 million commuters (some 30 per cent of the city's population) ride nearly 7,000 buses of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). The BMTC aims to increase ridership by another million by next year. Expanding the fleet is one way—1,779 new electric buses will roll out by October. The other, more crucial one, involves the first time, the BMTC, and the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL), have published their transport data in a globally recognised open data standard called General Transit Feed Specification. This was part of a start-up challenge that pitted developers to build digital tools for urban mobility using this data. Last week, two city-based mobility apps, Tummoc and Namma Yatri, launched trip planning tools where passengers can access bus/metro schedules and even book rides on autorickshaws on a single DATA STACK BMTC is also working on the Bengaluru Transport Stack, an open data exchange platform that enables sharing of real-time data that could kickstart an innovation ecosystem in mobility solutions. The goal is to integrate different modes of transport and, in the process, increase operational efficiency, reduce travel time and aid traffic management. Ultimately, the plan is to sync mass transport systems and first-and-last-mile connections to make travelling easier for commuters. An 11-month-old project, the stack will have real-time data from public transport providers to micro-mobility services. For India's cities choked by traffic, tech solutions based on open data is the new to India Today Magazine- Ends
New Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Multimodal transport apps will help you plan daily commute in Bengaluru
BENGALURU: Tummoc and Namma Yatri launched new public transit features powered by open data, enabling seamless Metro, bus and auto planning. The apps are winners of the Enroute Challenge by Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), World Resources Institute (WRI) India, and Villgro, marking the city's first end-to-end Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) solutions. The initiative was unveiled by Minister for IT/BT Priyank Kharge on Thursday, aiming to boost public transport use to 70 per cent by 2030. The newly launched features, powered by General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data from Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), enable commuters to plan and complete Metro, bus, and last-mile journeys on a single platform. The apps are the first of their kind to offer fully integrated end-to-end public transit solutions in Bengaluru. Unveiling the features, Kharge said, 'Bengaluru is one of the fastest-growing cities globally. To reach our goal of 70 per cent public transport share by 2030, we need open data, digital integration, and first-last mile connectivity. The Enroute Challenge is a transformative step in this direction.'
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
BMRCL, BMTC open transport data; allow Namma Yatri, Tummoc users to coordinate first, last-mile connectivity
Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) have finally opened up their transport data empowering two apps Namma Yatri and Tummoc to allow its users seamless first- and last-mile connectivity for commuters. This has been a long standing demand for over a decade now. With addition of new features, users of both apps can now plan their entire journey and purchase a single ticket covering the complete trip. For instance, if a commuter needs to use all three modes of transport (bus, metro, and autorickshaw) they can plan the route using either application and buy just one ticket for the entire journey. The apps utilise real-time data from buses and metro trains operating on the commuter's route to design a coordinated travel plan. Ideally, this allows commuters to access each mode of public transport immediately after deboarding the previous one, though actual timing may be affected by factors such as traffic. A hindrance to develop this feature was that BMTC and BMRCL had not opened up their data, which has finally happened in the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS), a globally recognised open data standard for public transportation, which includes information on stops, routes, and schedules. So far, BMTC has been providing static data to the platform and plans to begin sharing real-time data soon. Currently, Namma Yatri offers trip planning that integrates auto-rickshaw services with metro routes. Namma Yatri is yet to go live, while Tummoc has already started the services. Tummoc, in addition to similar features, also allows users to track the amount of carbon emissions they save by choosing public transport over private vehicles. The development of these features follows Tummoc and Namma Yatri jointly winning a ₹30 lakh grant in August 2024, after emerging as winners of Enroute: A Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) Challenge, an initiative organised by WRI, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), and Villgro. Priyank M. Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT, BT, and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, emphasised the importance of such initiatives in addressing last-mile connectivity issues. 'In Bengaluru, we don't measure travel in kilometres; we measure it in hours. We acknowledge the problem and are committed to solving it,' he said. 'Bengaluru is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, with a 12% growth rate last year. Projections show we will grow by 8.5% annually over the next decade,' he said, adding that the city loses an estimated ₹20,000 crore each year due to time wasted in traffic, which directly impacts productivity. In comparison, Mumbai and Delhi reportedly lose ₹40,000 crore and ₹60,000 crore annually, respectively, he claimed. Mr. Kharge further noted that less than 50% of the city's population currently uses public transport, and the government's vision is to increase that number to 70% by 2030. Against this backdrop, he said, the launch of such integrated features marks a significant step towards encouraging wider adoption of public transportation.
