Funding Opportunity to Inclusive Public Transportation Challenge

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is inviting applications for the Inclusive Public Transportation Challenge to identify, pilot, and scale innovative navigation solutions that make public transportation more accessible for blind and visually impaired passengers in India. The challenge supports technologies that improve independent mobility, passenger safety, and inclusive access across metro, rail, Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), and bus networks.

Successful applicants can receive grant funding of up to USD 450,000 per pilot project, along with opportunities to validate their solutions in real-world transit systems, collaborate with ADB and regional stakeholders, and contribute to inclusive urban mobility across Asia and the Pacific.

About the ADB Inclusive Public Transportation Challenge

The ADB Inclusive Public Transportation Challenge is designed to identify innovative technologies that improve accessibility for people with visual impairments using public transportation. The initiative focuses on creating practical, scalable, and user-friendly navigation solutions that enable blind and visually impaired passengers to travel safely and independently.

India is home to approximately 9.1 million people living with blindness, many of whom continue to face barriers while navigating public transport despite existing audio and visual announcements. This challenge seeks solutions that provide comprehensive navigation support throughout the entire travel journey.

Focus Areas

The challenge supports projects that address one or more of the following areas:

• Inclusive navigation solutions for metro, rail, Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), and bus services.
• Improving accessibility for blind and visually impaired passengers.
• Enhancing passenger safety during public transport journeys.
• Supporting independent mobility and confidence while traveling.
• Providing real-time, hands-free navigation and orientation.
• Enabling seamless navigation from station entry to final destination.
• Generating evidence to support large-scale adoption across cities.
• Promoting inclusive urban transportation systems.

Funding Information

Applicants selected under the challenge may receive:

• Grant funding of up to USD 450,000 per pilot project.
• A 10% co-financing contribution from the applicant.
• Opportunities to validate solutions through real-world pilot implementation.
• Collaboration with ADB and transportation stakeholders.
• Increased visibility among governments, investors, and development partners across Asia and the Pacific.
• Support for scaling successful solutions to additional urban transit systems.

Challenge Objectives

The challenge aims to:

• Improve accessibility within public transportation systems.
• Increase independent mobility for blind and visually impaired passengers.
• Enhance passenger safety through innovative navigation technologies.
• Demonstrate practical and scalable accessibility solutions.
• Build evidence for wider adoption across multiple cities.
• Encourage innovation in inclusive transportation technology.

Eligible Public Transportation Systems

Solutions should be designed for one or more of the following:

• Metro systems.
• Railway networks.
• Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS).
• Bus-based public transportation.
• Multi-modal public transit environments.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• For-profit companies.
• Not-for-profit organizations.
• Civil society organizations (CSOs).
• Research institutions.
• Government-owned enterprises that are legally and financially autonomous.

Additional eligibility requirements include:

• Individual applicants are not eligible.
• Every team member must be at least 18 years old.
• Applicants should have the technical capacity to develop, pilot, and evaluate innovative accessibility solutions.
• Organizations should be capable of implementing pilot projects in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Project Requirements

Eligible projects should:

• Develop innovative navigation technologies for visually impaired users.
• Improve accessibility across public transportation systems.
• Demonstrate practical use in real transit environments.
• Produce measurable outcomes related to accessibility and safety.
• Be scalable for implementation across additional cities and transport systems.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

1. Visit the official ADB Challenges website.
2. Register an organization account.
3. Access the online application system.
4. Complete the application form with project information.
5. Submit all required supporting documents.
6. Upload the completed application before the closing deadline specified by ADB.

Why This Challenge Matters

Accessible public transportation is essential for social inclusion, independent living, and equal access to education, employment, and public services. While many transit systems have introduced basic accessibility features, blind and visually impaired passengers continue to experience navigation challenges throughout their journeys.

This challenge encourages the development of innovative technologies that can bridge these accessibility gaps, improve user confidence, reduce travel barriers, and support more inclusive cities across India and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Application Tips

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by:

• Clearly explaining how the solution addresses accessibility challenges.
• Demonstrating innovation beyond existing navigation technologies.
• Including evidence that the solution can be scaled.
• Presenting a realistic implementation and pilot plan.
• Describing expected outcomes and measurable impact.
• Preparing a clear co-financing strategy to meet the 10% funding requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can individuals apply for the challenge?

No. Applications are only accepted from eligible organizations. Individual applicants are not eligible.

How much funding is available?

Selected pilot projects may receive grant funding of up to USD 450,000, subject to a 10% co-financing contribution.

Which transportation systems are covered?

The challenge supports solutions for metro, rail, Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), and bus-based public transportation.

Who are the intended beneficiaries?

The solutions should primarily benefit blind and visually impaired passengers using public transportation in India.

Is collaboration with ADB included?

Yes. Selected participants will have opportunities to collaborate with ADB and other key stakeholders during pilot implementation.

Can research institutions participate?

Yes. Research institutions, along with eligible public, private, and nonprofit organizations, may apply.

How are applications submitted?

Applications must be submitted online through the official ADB Challenges application system after registering on the challenge website.

Conclusion

The ADB Inclusive Public Transportation Challenge provides an important opportunity for organizations to develop innovative accessibility solutions that improve the public transportation experience for blind and visually impaired passengers in India. With funding of up to USD 450,000, opportunities for real-world pilot testing, and collaboration with ADB and regional partners, the challenge supports practical innovations that can transform inclusive mobility and help create safer, more accessible public transportation systems.