MYSURU, 14 JULY

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Monday launched city buses equipped with voice-guided assistive technology to help visually impaired passengers travel independently in Mysuru.

Speaking after launching this scheme, the minister said the new system has already been introduced on 125 buses in Bengaluru. He said his government will give instructions to install this system to 7,000 new buses to be rolled out shortly across the State.

The new system named Divya Spandana incorporates an audio device on buses that visually impaired passengers can activate using a remote key to get route numbers and other details. When the "Find" button is pressed at a bus stop, the bus's module announces the route number. If it matches the destination, pressing "Select" alerts the driver and conductor that a visually impaired passenger is boarding, ensuring that the bus waits longer for safe entry.  The same process is used while disembarking, too.

Speaking on the occasion, State Guarantee Scheme Implementation Committee Vice Chairperson Pushpa Amarnath said the initiative was being taken up in collaboration with BIZ India. “It helps visually-impaired persons to independently board the buses plying to the routes of their choice,” She said.

Amarnath said that Shakti Scheme cost the government Rs 776.8 crore in Mysuru district.