Nagpur: Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to become the newest conductor on Nagpur’s Aapli Bus network, with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s Transport Department proposing an AI-based system to automatically count passengers boarding and alighting buses. The proposal, along with plans to convert 195 diesel buses to CNG, expand services on seven NMRDA routes and introduce a new advertising policy to boost non-fare revenue, will come up before the Transport Committee on Tuesday.The committee will consider granting administrative approval for an AI-based Automatic Passenger Counting (APC) system integrated with the existing Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS) and Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs). The technology will automatically record passenger footfall, verify ticket revenue, analyse route-wise demand, optimise fleet deployment and help curb revenue leakage.The proposal also seeks approval to appoint a Project Management Consultant (PMC) to prepare the detailed project report (DPR), technical specifications and tender documents, besides managing the bidding process. According to the agenda, the consultant’s fee will be borne by the successful implementation agency, ensuring no additional financial burden on the civic body at this stage.Another key proposal seeks to extend the operational life of 195 diesel buses running under Gross Cost Contracts (GCC). Instead of procuring new buses after the existing 10-year contracts expire, NMC plans to convert 150 midi buses and 45 mini buses to CNG, enabling them to operate for up to 15 years, subject to statutory fitness certification. The conversion cost, including CNG kits, testing and RTO approvals, will be borne entirely by private operators, with supplementary agreements proposed to extend the existing GCC contracts.The committee will also deliberate on introducing services on seven expanded NMRDA routes using 91 buses. The proposal estimates an additional 19,292km of daily operations and projects a lower viability gap funding requirement of Rs42.57 per km on the expanded routes, compared with Rs46.72 per km if the buses continue operating only within city limits.Other proposals include developing modern bus shelters through the PPP model with advertisement rights, introducing a comprehensive transport advertising policy to increase non-fare revenue, offering free travel to women and children below 10 years on Raksha Bandhan (August 28), approving Rs73.67 lakh for additional underground power infrastructure at the Wathoda electric bus charging depot, redesigning 1,650 bus-stop signages, granting post-facto approval to transport department expenditure incurred during April and May, and transferring 17 condemned buses to NGOs for women-centric welfare initiatives.KEY PROPOSALS BEFORE TRANSPORT PANEL• Meeting scheduled on Tuesday, July 14, at 4pm• AI-based Automatic Passenger Counting system to be introduced in city buses• PMC to be appointed for DPR, tender documents and bid management• Proposal to convert 195 diesel buses (150 midi, 45 mini) into CNG buses• Existing GCC contracts proposed to be extended through supplementary agreements• Bus services on seven expanded NMRDA routes with 91 buses• Nearly 19,292km of additional daily bus operations planned• Modern bus shelters proposed through PPP and advertisement rights• New transport advertisement policy to boost non-fare revenue• Free city bus travel for women and children below 10 years on Raksha Bandhan• Rs73.67 lakh proposal for additional underground power infrastructure at Wathoda e-bus charging depot• Approval sought for redesigned bus stop signages and transfer of 17 condemned buses to NGOs for women-centric projects
