Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jul 11: In a significant stride toward smart mobility, Bengaluru’s daily commuters can now plan their entire public transport journey—including metro, bus, and last-mile auto rides—using a single mobile application, thanks to new open-data powered features introduced by Namma Yatri and Tummoc.
The new services, launched on Thursday, make use of the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS)—a globally recognized public transport data standard. This real-time data is provided by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and includes critical information such as stops, routes, trip schedules, and timings.
The initiative is the result of the ‘Enroute Challenge’, a three-month innovation contest aimed at transforming Bengaluru’s public transport experience. Organised by Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India in collaboration with World Resources Institute (WRI) India and Villgro, the competition saw participation from six startups, with Tummoc and Namma Yatri emerging as winners in August 2024.
Tummoc, a Bengaluru-based mobility startup, has already launched its upgraded application, now equipped with features like metro and bus route planning, real-time schedules, nearby stop detection, and integration of auto-rickshaws for first and last-mile travel. The app also helps users track their carbon footprint, nudging them toward more sustainable commuting options.
Namma Yatri, the city’s auto booking platform, will roll out its features in the coming days. “We’ve completed our field testing and are in the process of integrating remaining data. Users can soon expect smart journey planning, live metro schedule tracking, and contextual travel alerts,” said Shan MS, Co-founder and COO of Namma Yatri, speaking.
“This multi-modal integration ensures that a commuter can plan their trip from door to destination on one platform without any hassle. It’s a step towards redefining public transport convenience,” he added.
The launch event witnessed the presence of key government and transport officials. Priyank M Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT, BT, and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, stressed the importance of open data in enabling innovation.
“To reach our target of 70% public transport share by 2030, we need more than just infrastructure. Open data enables solutions tailored to our unique urban challenges. Startups like Tummoc and Namma Yatri are perfect examples of Bengaluru’s innovation ecosystem solving real problems,” the minister said.
Also in attendance were BMTC Managing Director Ramachandran R, IT/BT Principal Secretary Ekroop Caur, BMRCL Executive Director A S Shankar, and Congress leader M V Rajeev Gowda, among others.
With this launch, Bengaluru becomes one of the few cities in India to offer digitally integrated, multi-modal journey planning—paving the way for smarter, greener, and more connected public transport.