The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has won the Changemaker Award in the Innovation in Public Transit category for its efforts to modernise the city’s bus network, strengthen connectivity and promote sustainable urban transport.
The award was presented at the Mobility Symposium–2026 held in Bengaluru on Thursday. Sunita J., BMTC’s public relations officer, received it on behalf of the corporation from retired IAS officer Vikram Kapoor.
According to the recognition cited at the event, BMTC’s continuing initiatives to expand and modernise Bengaluru’s public transport network were central to the award. The corporation’s airport transport services, NICE Road corridor operations and technology-enabled passenger services were specifically highlighted as initiatives intended to make public transport more effective.
BMTC operates around 1,000 airport service trips every day and serves between 12,000 and 15,000 airport passengers daily, according to the report. Its services along the NICE Road corridor account for approximately 250 trips a day and are used by around 18,000 passengers.
The corporation has also introduced an updated mobile application called Namma BMTC 2.0 as part of its continuing digital transformation. The application provides live information on operating buses, estimated arrival times, routes and bus stops. It also includes digital ticket purchases, bus pass services, journey planning and digital payment options.
The app additionally supports integrated ticketing between BMTC and Namma Metro. BMTC said the platform allows passengers to plan bus journeys, metro journeys and combined bus–metro trips through a single digital interface.
The award places attention on the operational role of city bus services beyond conventional route coverage. Airport connectivity, corridor-based services and integrated digital tools connect different parts of Bengaluru’s transport system, while also giving passengers access to real-time information and electronic payment services.
However, the figures and features cited in the award announcement describe the corporation’s initiatives and service volumes; the report does not provide independent performance data on punctuality, ridership growth, application usage or passenger satisfaction. The immediate next step identified by BMTC is the continued use of Namma BMTC 2.0 and its integrated services as part of the corporation’s digital transformation.
