India’s first AQI-equipped buses rolled out on Vijayawada–Bengaluru route

Vijayawada: In a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, IntrCity SmartBus launched Air Quality Index (AQI)-enabled intercity bus services in Vijayawada, aimed at improving passenger health and travel comfort during long-distance journeys. DCP (Traffic) Shereen Begum formally inaugurated the bus service in Vijayawada on Saturday.Speaking on the occasion, Shereen Begum said the launch of SmartBus AQI services on the Vijayawada–Bengaluru and Bengaluru–Vijayawada corridors marked a significant milestone in the country's intercity travel sector. She noted that the initiative focused on maintaining better air quality inside buses to safeguard passenger health.IntrCity SmartBus Co-founder and CEO Manish Rathi said Vijayawada is a key intercity travel hub with strong demand for long-distance travel to Bengaluru. He said the introduction of SmartBus AQI services aimed to ensure passengers could breathe clean and safe air even during extended journeys.According to internal studies conducted by the company, air pollution levels inside intercity bus cabins can sometimes be 2 to 3 times higher than the limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). To address this issue, the company introduced SmartBus AQI technology designed to monitor and improve air quality inside buses.