Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has been awarded the National Award for Excellence in Urban Transport – 2025 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. According to a KSRTC release, the award recognizes Karnataka as the state that had implemented the best urban transport projects during the last year.

KSRTC’s Dhvani Spandan project, which is the first of its kind initiative for visually impaired passengers, received the honor for its work in creating an inclusive and accessible public transport system. The award was presented to KSRTC Managing Director Akram Pasha by Union Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar at a function held in Gurugram, Haryana on Sunday, the release said.

“Developed by the Raised Lines Foundation at IIT Delhi with GIZ as knowledge partner, the Onboard Bus Identification and Navigation System has been implemented in 200 Mysore city buses. This technology uses assistive audio signals to help visually impaired passengers identify oncoming buses and locate entry points safely,” a KSRTC official said. “More than 400 visually impaired passengers have been trained to use the system, which has significantly improved their mobility, confidence and safety while traveling independently in public transport,” the official said.