Pune: IntrCity SmartBus AQI service has been launched by IntrCity SmartBus, India’s intercity mobility brand, on the Pune–Nagpur and Nagpur–Pune routes, introducing India’s first air-purified bus service for intercity travellers in the region.
The SmartBus.AQI service on the Pune–Nagpur route was formally flagged off in Pune in the presence of Shripad Bhagwat, Inspector of Motor Vehicles, RTO Pune, along with senior leadership from IntrCity SmartBus.
The launch marks a milestone in the company’s clean-air travel initiative aimed at improving health, safety, and comfort standards in intercity bus travel.
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IntrCity SmartBus AQI Clean-Air Travel Initiative
Manish Rathi, Co-founder & CEO, IntrCity SmartBus, said, “Pune is a key intercity travel hub, with strong demand for long-distance routes such as Pune – Nagpur. With IntrCity SmartBus AQI, we are addressing an often-ignored aspect of travel – air quality inside the bus.
Our goal is to ensure that passengers can travel long distances while breathing cleaner, safer air throughout the journey.”
IntrCity’s internal studies found that in-cabin air pollution on intercity routes can be 2–3× higher than WHO-recommended limits.
To address this, the company partnered with Respirer Living Sciences, a ClimateTech firm, to equip SmartBus.AQI with continuous air purification and monitoring systems.
Pilot runs maintained PM2.5 levels at around 40 µg/m³ for over 90% of the journey, significantly cleaner than typical outdoor air in major Indian cities.
Passengers travelling on the Pune–Nagpur corridor can identify these buses during booking through the “IntrCity SmartBus AQI” tag on the IntrCity app or website, indicating onboard air-quality control systems.
Real-time AQI and PM2.5 readings will be displayed onboard and within the app for transparency.
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The Pune–Nagpur rollout builds on earlier IntrCity SmartBus AQI deployment across high-pollution North India routes, with additional corridors planned in future phases.
IntrCity has previously introduced category-first innovations such as onboard washrooms, boarding lounges, digital check-ins, and trained Bus Captains.
The company has also launched a dedicated SmartBus.AQI microsite where travellers can explore the technology, understand the air-purification system, and learn more about the initiative.
IntrCity SmartBus operates an asset-less bus network providing standardized long-distance travel options across India. The company operates across more than 630 routes in 15 states.
Its companion brand, RailYatri, is a digital platform for train travel in India serving over 12 million users monthly with ticket booking services and travel insights.
