BMTC to introduce automatic passenger counting system on 30 buses

The initiative is expected to give BMTC a more detailed picture of passenger demand across routes and trips

Published - September 30, 2026 06:01 am IST

BMTC has called for a tender seeking a system that can provide passenger data by route, vehicle, trip and stop, as well as across different time periods. | Photo Credit: File photo

The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is set to introduce an Automatic Passenger Counting (APC) system on 30 selected buses to obtain more accurate data on passenger movement, occupancy, and boarding and alighting patterns.

The system is intended to provide BMTC with automated information on the number of passengers boarding and alighting at different stops, along with onboard occupancy. According to officials, the system will also enable the transport corporation to compare passenger counts recorded by the APC with data from its Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs), including information relating to students and pass holders.

The initiative is expected to give BMTC a more detailed picture of passenger demand across routes and trips. The data generated through the system can be used for service planning, schedule rationalisation, analysing passenger loads, and identifying instances of overcrowding, officials said.

“The APC system will be installed at passenger doors and will use sensors and onboard equipment to automatically detect passenger movement. The proposed solution will also include software and backend systems to process the data generated by the devices,” an official explained.

As part of the project, BMTC has called for a tender seeking a system that can provide passenger data by route, vehicle, trip and stop, as well as across different time periods. The system is also expected to provide dashboards, analytical tools and downloadable reports, allowing the corporation to examine passenger trends and operational data.

An important component of the project will be the integration of the APC system with BMTC’s existing technology infrastructure. The tender specifies that the solution should support integration with the corporation’s Automatic Vehicle Location System (AVLS), ETM system and other systems wherever required and where the necessary interfaces and data are made available by BMTC.

According to officials, the proposed system is expected to help BMTC independently verify passenger numbers recorded through its ticketing system. This could be particularly useful for understanding ridership on services where passengers travel using different categories of passes, as the APC data can provide an additional source of passenger movement information.

The tender also specifies that the APC system should achieve a counting accuracy of at least 95% during commissioning. The passenger counts will be checked against corresponding ETM passenger data as part of the verification process. The successful service provider will also be required to undertake calibration and corrections based on observations made during acceptance testing.

Another senior BMTC official said the system may also help identify revenue leakage arising from two major issues: pilferage by employees and ticketless passengers travelling without paying fares.

“At present, checking inspectors penalise ticketless passengers and recommend disciplinary action against conductors found involved in corrupt practices. However, the corporation has been unable to effectively control pilferage. This system may help us identify and address these issues more effectively,” the official added.

Published - September 30, 2026 06:01 am IST

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