AI-based ticketing to make Surat buses smarter

Surat: Say goodbye to handheld ticketing machines in city buses and hello to AI-powered fare collection!
The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is rolling out a high-tech system that will automatically count passengers on buses and match them with ticketing data, leaving no room for ticketing malpractices.
Currently, conductors use 2G-based ticketing devices that frequently malfunction, allowing them to collect cash without issuing tickets. The technology was used for 10 years. This results in revenue losses for SMC. To fix this, the civic body is planning to phase out the outdated tech and upgrade to 4G Android-based machines that instantly log transactions.
But the real game-changer is AI-driven passenger verification. Cameras inside buses will now count every passenger boarding and deboarding. This real-time data will be cross-checked with issued tickets to detect any discrepancies. Developed with support from IIT Roorkee, this system ensures that if a ride is taken, a fare is paid.
"With AI tracking the exact number of passengers, no one can exploit manual loopholes anymore. The system will instantly flag any mismatches in ticketing and passenger count," said an SMC official.
Surat's electric buses already have cameras installed, and the upcoming fleet will be fully equipped for smart surveillance. With 700 buses currently on the roads and plans to expand to 1,000, the city is also transitioning to an all-electric fleet, completely phasing out diesel vehicles.
Once AI-based systems are proven to be efficient, mobile-based ticketing will follow, allowing passengers to pay directly via their phones. "This technology is set to revolutionise fare collection in Surat. After successful trials, we will roll it out across the city," said R J Patel, deputy municipal commissioner, SMC.
Currently, SMC teams catch the conductors indulging in malpractice and penalize them.