Efficient Smart Public Transit System Using RFID and IoT integration with MERN web applications

This paper develops a Smart Public Transportation System using RFID technology, IoT integration, and a MERN-based web application for increasing the efficiency, accessibility, and user experience of urban transit systems. It addresses problems such as unreliable bus tracking, lack of support for multilingualism, and ineffective communication between operators and passengers. The key hardware components include RFID tags for bus identification, and IoT-enabled bus stations with RFID scanners, speakers, GSM modules for data transmission, and LCD displays. These ensure accurate real-time updates about the bus locations. On the software side, it is supported by a MERN stack, including MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js, providing a responsive web interface that’s complemented by Leaflet.js for dynamic route visualization and WebSockets for live updates. Multilingual support through i18next makes it inclusive for various user groups. The system is efficient in that it only updates when RFID scanners capture bus tags at certain checkpoints, thereby reducing server load much more than GPS-based systems. Additional features include route tracking, interactive maps, ticket pricing, and anonymous passenger chats. Crowd-sourced feedback mechanisms and an admin panel for bus management ensure the reliability and scalability of the system. This work shows the feasibility of cost-effective, scalable, and user-centric modernization of public transportation systems, paving the way for further enhancements such as integrated payment systems and AI-based route optimization.