In an effort to strengthen public transport operations and improve bus ridership across India, a national communication and outreach program called Reaching Your Riders (RYR) has been launched. The initiative is led by GIZ with support from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in collaboration with ITDP India.
Designed as a six-month intervention, this initiative aims to improve the way public bus systems communicate and engage with passengers in daily operations. “As ridership gradually recovers in the post-COVID era and bus fleets expand in several cities, the program is an opportune opportunity to increase public confidence and use of public transport,” the report said.
Despite the addition of thousands of buses every year, information gaps continue to act as barriers for passengers. Manjunath Sekhar, Director, Sustainable Urban Mobility, GIZ India, said today’s riders expect real-time information at their fingertips and knowing when the next bus is coming is almost mandatory for the new generation users.
The report further highlighted that bus travel in many Indian cities is often perceived as unsafe and stressful due to poor communication. By improving how agencies interact with riders, the initiative aims to transform bus services into reliable, trusted systems where passengers feel seen, informed and heard.
The program will be implemented in three phases. The first phase includes the initiation and assessment of existing communication mechanisms within selected state transport enterprises (STU). The second phase will include an international exposure visit to study best practices, followed by an application process for pilot implementation. In the third and final phase, the four STUs or Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) with the highest potential for improvement will receive technical support for the implementation of pilot projects.
Published – 09 Feb 2026 20:44 IST
