The Delhi government is finalising the routes for its ambitious 'Mohalla Bus' scheme, which aims to solve the national capital's last-mile connectivity problem by leveraging big data analytics, artificial intelligence and expertise from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government has deployed assistant traffic inspectors (ATIs) to identify routes for mohalla buses and assess operational status in different areas.
A team of 32 ATIs has been formed and divided into four zones with each zone having two teams of four ATIs. These teams will work on the ground to understand the practical challenges of operating 9 metre Mohalla buses on these routes. They will also collect public feedback on starting new routes in these areas.
The use of AI and big data analytics in public transport will be a game changer for the national capital, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said in an official statement, adding that ATI has been involved in finalising the mohalla bus routes.
The government aims to ensure sustainable operation as well as increase connectivity of the mohalla bus network by identifying underserved and high-passenger areas, he said.
Methodology for determining Mohalla Bus Network
1. Developing demand and supply models: IIT Delhi will develop a model to identify all origins and destinations that have high ridership but limited bus service. The model will assess the current transport network and connectivity using actual travel time data. It will also get mode and travel time data from transit agencies and passenger information platforms such as Google Maps to determine the ease of traveling between locations and identify underserved areas.
2. Network-wide travel demand model: The model collects travel data from location-based services and GPS-enabled apps and converts it into an origin-destination matrix. It uses passenger data from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to analyze travel patterns and identify high pedestrian traffic areas.
3. Route network design: Using the developed model, IIT-Delhi will design an efficient route network for Mohalla buses, which will include an AI/Metahretics based routing algorithm that can handle the changing passenger load, maximize coverage, and ensure route feasibility and user experience. The algorithm will consider factors like the existing transport network, travel demand, operational constraints and prevailing cost compared to driving.
4. Surveillance: Once the route is designed, IIT-Delhi will help the Delhi Transport Department monitor the route, a process in which real-time data collection and analysis will be key.
5. A comprehensive and evidence-based approach: In addition to using AI, the Delhi government is also using inputs from local councillors and residents, as well as data collected by the transport department's technical team during a comprehensive 30-day field survey to determine mohalla bus routes.
