DTC Live

DTC Live is a real-time bus tracking and route-planning experience designed to make daily travel easier for Delhi commuters. The concept addresses a common challenge faced by bus passengers: uncertainty around where to go, which bus to take, and when the bus will actually arrive.

The experience brings route discovery, real-time bus tracking, arrival predictions, and route recommendations together in one mobile experience, helping commuters make faster and more confident travel decisions.

The Problem

Delhi bus commuters often know where they need to go but may be uncertain about which bus to take, where to board, and when the bus will arrive. This uncertainty becomes especially challenging during peak commuting hours.

DTC Live was designed to reduce that uncertainty by giving users clearer information at each stage of their journey—from discovering a route to tracking the bus and reaching their destination.

Understanding the User

The design process started by identifying the key needs and pain points of daily commuters.

User Insight

Commuters often know where they need to go but are unsure which bus to take or when it will arrive.

User Need

Passengers value comfort as much as speed, particularly during peak commuting hours. The experience therefore needs to help them make informed decisions rather than simply finding the fastest route.

Product Thinking

Recommended routes prioritize ETA and crowd level, helping users compare their options and make faster travel decisions.

Convenience Feature

Arrival alerts allow users to stay informed without continuously checking the application while waiting for their bus.

The Journey

The core journey was designed to take users from route discovery to boarding with minimal effort and uncertainty.

01 — Open DTC Live

Users begin by opening the DTC Live application and accessing their journey-planning experience.

02 — Search Destination

Instead of requiring users to remember specific bus numbers, the route discovery process starts with their destination.

This makes the experience more intuitive and puts the user's travel goal at the center of the journey.

03 — Discover Recommended Routes

Once a destination is entered, the application presents recommended routes. Users can compare available options based on factors such as estimated arrival time and crowd level.

If a suitable route isn't available, the experience provides alternative route suggestions.

04 — Track the Bus

After selecting a route, users can track their bus in real time and monitor its progress toward their stop.

The map-based tracking experience gives users a clearer understanding of where the bus is and how close it is to their location.

05 — Arrival Alerts

If the bus isn't arriving immediately, users can set a notification alert and continue with their activities instead of repeatedly checking the application.

06 — Board & Reach the Destination

Once the bus arrives, users can board and continue their journey toward the destination. The overall flow keeps the commuter informed from route discovery → tracking → arrival → boarding → destination.

Designing for Everyday Commuting

The primary design challenge was to reduce the uncertainty that commuters experience during everyday bus travel. Instead of overwhelming users with transportation data, the experience focuses on presenting the right information at the right moment.

The interface uses route recommendations, ETA information, crowd-level indicators, maps, and notifications to help users make decisions quickly while keeping the overall journey simple.

A More Confident Commute

DTC Live is designed around a simple goal: help commuters move from uncertainty to confidence.

By combining destination-first route discovery with real-time tracking, arrival predictions, alternative route suggestions, and notifications, the experience gives users greater control over their daily bus journeys without requiring them to constantly monitor the application.