Delhi Plans AI-Powered Bus Management System as Electric Fleet Expansion Accelerates

The Delhi government plans to deploy an artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)-powered Bus Management System (BMS) to improve the operation, charging and maintenance of its expanding electric bus fleet.

The proposed system will specifically support the management of electric buses along with CNG and other fuel-based buses operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). DTC currently operates around 6,269 buses, including more than 4,500 electric buses, from 52 depots.

With the government targeting an expansion of the city’s bus fleet to 14,000 buses by 2028-29, the AI-enabled BMS is expected to play a key role in managing the larger fleet and supporting the growing deployment of electric buses.

One of the major applications of the system will be optimisation of electric-bus charging. AI and ML tools will be used to improve charging management and help ensure that electric buses are available for scheduled operations. The system will also support battery degradation prediction, enabling operators to monitor battery performance and plan maintenance requirements.

The proposed platform will use real-time operational and traffic data for fleet and route optimisation. It will be capable of predicting bus delays and estimated arrival times, while historical traffic information will also be used to improve service planning.

Predictive maintenance will be another key feature, allowing potential problems with buses to be identified before they result in breakdowns. The system will also monitor fleet utilisation, depot allocation and crew scheduling.

The BMS is expected to integrate CCTV feeds and passenger-counting data to provide a broader view of bus operations. It will also allow routes to be modified in response to changes directed by traffic authorities.

The system will include electronic ticketing machine management and integrate with DTC’s fare collection systems for data synchronisation, ticket validation, revenue reconciliation and operational reporting.

DTC has issued a tender for appointing an agency to study its existing operational structure and develop, implement, operate and maintain the new BMS and associated mobile applications.

The proposed AI-based platform comes as Delhi seeks to scale up electric public transport and manage a significantly larger bus fleet through data-driven monitoring, charging optimisation and predictive maintenance.