Namma Yatri, Tummoc to leverage Bengaluru’s transit data to solve mobility woes

Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), WRI India, and Villgro announced Tummoc and Namma Yatri as the winners of the 'Enroute: A Mobility-as-a-Service Challenge' on August 28.

With Bengaluru’s transit agencies opening up real-time data, two Bengaluru-based startups Namma Yatri and Tummoc will soon come up with solutions to enable seamless public transport system.

The Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) has facilitated a transit data portal named Transport Data Hub (tdh.dult-karnataka.com).

It contains General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data published by the city’s two agencies: Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), which these startups will use to develop innovative solutions. BMTC has a daily ridership of 38 lakh, while the Metro's ridership is around 8-9 lakh.

Also, read: Bengaluru's BMTC and Namma Metro to open up real-time transit data

GTFS is a global standard for public transportation data, enabling structured sharing of routes, stops, schedules, and fares. “This is the first time GTFS data of BMTC and BMRCL has been published on a website. Both agencies agreed to make the data fully open, with certain checks and balances, after this pilot period. Full GTFS integration is in progress and may take a few weeks as BMTC transitions its backend servers to the Karnataka State Data Center, after which API access will be granted,” said an official.

Namma Yatri and Tummoc to offer solutions

Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), WRI India, and Villgro announced Tummoc and Namma Yatri as the winners of the 'Enroute: A Mobility-as-a-Service Challenge' on August 28.

Both startups will use BMTC and BMRCL open GTFS data to create solutions that ease daily commutes in the city. This will let users plan trips by bus, Metro, or on foot, with detailed itineraries and the ability to compare, combine, and pay for different travel options online.

Also, read: Ola-Uber challenger Namma Yatri pilots auto, cab rentals

Tummoc is a multi-modal connectivity and ticketing application that aims to integrate journey planning, real-time data, and public transport ticketing in Bengaluru. Namma Yatri, a ride-hailing app based in Bengaluru, aims to create a unified journey booking system with a single QR code. Namma Yatri operates on government-backed initiative Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

"Namma Yatri and Tummoc, by integrating bus and metro services, will incentivise sustainable travel with scratch cards and smart alerts. This could attract new users who value reliable, seamless public transport and also reduce personal vehicle use in Bengaluru," said Srinivas Alavilli, Fellow at WRI India.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro touches 9 lakh daily ridership mark

The challenge, which launched a call for innovative public transport solutions in June this year, received 75 applications, with six enterprises making it to the final shortlist.

Karnataka IT-BT Secretary Ekroop Caur extended support to startups using advanced technology and GTFS open data to boost last-mile connectivity and public transport. BMTC IT Director Shilpa M highlighted the potential of open data to enhance multi-modal transport in Bengaluru. BMRCL Executive Director Kalpana Kataria emphasised the role of innovation in improving public transport and addressing connectivity gaps. WRI India Executive Director Pawan Mulukutla praised the Enroute challenge for showcasing data-driven urban mobility innovation.

Manu Saale, MD and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India, said, “We support solutions that improve urban commutes and inspire smarter transport systems.” Villgro Innovations Foundation’s Ananth Aravamudan expressed enthusiasm for supporting MaaS startups to enhance public transport and revolutionise city navigation.

Also, read: How poor last-mile connectivity has hit public transport use