In a pioneering step towards transforming urban mobility, Bengaluru launched its first-ever Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) applications, Tummoc and Namma Yatri on July 10. These innovative platforms have been developed as part of the Enroute Open Data Startup Challenge, spearheaded by Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) in collaboration with WRI India.
The launch marks a significant milestone in the city’s journey towards seamless, integrated and sustainable urban transportation. For the first time, commuters will be able to plan, book, and pay for their entire journey, spanning BMTC buses, metro trains, and autorickshaws, through a single digital interface, eliminating the need to switch between multiple apps.
This integration has been made possible by the decision of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) to release their General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data. GTFS is an internationally accepted open data format that includes detailed information on public transport schedules, routes, and stops. The move addresses a longstanding demand from tech developers and urban mobility experts, who have for years advocated for open transit data to enable smarter, commuter-centric solutions.
“This is a breakthrough for the city. In Bengaluru, we don’t measure distances in kilometres but in hours. And we lose nearly ₹20,000 crore annually in productivity due to time lost in traffic,” said Priyank M. Kharge, Karnataka’s Minister for Electronics, IT, BT, and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj. He underscored the importance of integrated solutions in alleviating last-mile connectivity challenges and promoting public transport usage.
Currently, less than 50% of daily trips in Bengaluru are made using public transportation. The state government aims to increase this figure to 70% by 2030, and initiatives like Tummoc and Namma Yatri are critical to achieving that goal.
Tummoc, which was an Elevate 2018 winner under Karnataka’s grant-in-aid program for startups, has already rolled out its services. It also features a unique carbon emissions tracker, encouraging users to make eco-conscious transport choices. Namma Yatri, which is set to go live soon, will initially offer integrated trip planning for metro and autorickshaw services.
The apps use real-time data from BMTC buses and metro trains to optimise travel routes, allowing commuters to transition efficiently from one mode of transport to another. While actual travel timings may still vary due to traffic conditions, the availability of dynamic data significantly enhances user planning and convenience.
Both apps were declared joint winners of a ₹30 lakh grant during the Enroute MaaS Challenge in August 2024, reinforcing the government’s and industry’s commitment to local innovation. As homegrown platforms built by Bengaluru and for Bengaluru, Tummoc and Namma Yatri represent a promising shift in how India’s tech capital envisions and executes urban mobility.
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