A breakthrough in cleaner, safer long-distance travel, this marks the first phase of the launch, with more buses to be added in subsequent phases
- Built-in air purification system filters PM2.5, CO₂, dust, smoke and harmful particles
- Real-time AQI monitoring available onboard and through the IntrCity app
- Built in India with local indigenous partners, developed in partnership with leading climate-tech company Respirer Living Sciences
- 90% of the journey during pilot runs maintained PM2.5 at 40 micrograms per cubic meter (India’s national prescribed standard by NAAQS: 60 micrograms per cubic meter for 24-hour periods)
- First rollout across North India routes, where pollution levels are highest
IntrCity SmartBus, India’s leading intercity mobility brand, today announced the launch of IntrCity SmartBus.AQI, the nation’s first fleet of air-purified buses engineered to deliver cleaner, safer, and healthier in-cabin air for long-distance travellers. This pioneering initiative marks a significant milestone in IntrCity’s ongoing mission to redefine bus travel standards in India.
IntrCity conducted extensive air-quality tests across multiple routes and found that in-cabin air pollution levels were 2-3× higher than WHO’s safe limits. To solve this, IntrCity partnered with Respirer Living Sciences, an award-winning ClimateTech company specialising in air-quality intelligence and clean-air systems.
As these buses are being rolled out in phases, at the time of booking, look out for the name “IntrCity Smartbus.AQI” on the IntrCity app or website. The letters “.AQI” at the end will tell you if the bus is equipped with air quality control systems.
Manish Rathi, Co-founder & CEO, IntrCity SmartBus, said, “Our air-quality tests were eye-opening. As leaders in the intercity mobility category, we felt a responsibility to address this urgent health concern. SmartBus.AQI is our commitment to ensuring that clean, safe air becomes a standard part of bus travel in India. This is a meaningful upgrade to the overall travel experience and to passenger wellbeing.”
Ronak Sutaria, Co-founder, Respirer Living Sciences, said, “At Respirer, we are passionate about using climate sciences to improve quality of life. In this collaboration with IntrCity, we have not only deployed our indigenously developed AI-powered Air Quality Monitoring technology but are also providing our patent-pending demand-controlled energy-recovery based air filtration and ventilation solutions. Making long-distance bus transport cleaner and more comfortable is a true win-win – it helps combat climate change, while also allowing for healthier choices.”
The newly introduced SmartBus.AQI fleet integrates a continuous purification and monitoring system that filters pollutants and circulates fresh, safe air throughout the journey. Pilot runs recorded PM2.5 levels around 40 micrograms per cubic meter for over 90% of travel time, significantly cleaner than outdoor levels across major cities.
Passengers will also have access to real-time AQI and PM2.5 data displayed onboard and on the IntrCity app for full transparency.
The first rollout is underway across high-pollution North India routes (Lucknow, Kanpur, Katra, Pathankot, etc.). IntrCity has consistently introduced category-first solutions – onboard washrooms, boarding lounges, digital check-ins and trained Bus Captains. With SmartBus.AQI, the company now addresses a critical and previously overlooked concern: the quality of air passengers breathe during long hours inside a closed bus environment.
IntrCity has also introduced a dedicated SmartBus.AQI microsite, where travellers and the public can explore how the technology works, understand the science behind air purification, and learn about the key highlights of this clean-air travel initiative.
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