Minsk Dismantles Smart Bus Stop After Six-Year Tech Experiment

At the end of April 2025, residents and guests of Minsk witnessed the conclusion of a technological experiment that began six years ago. On Nemiga Street, the so-called “smart stop” — a bus shelter that once embodied hopes for an innovative urban future — was dismantled.

History of the Innovative Project

In 2019, Minsk residents enthusiastically welcomed the appearance of an unusual public transport shelter. The “smart stop” stood out among the city’s typical structures and offered passengers a whole range of technological conveniences:

• Interactive touch screens with city navigation
• Ports for charging mobile devices
• Emergency service call buttons
• A system for alerting drivers about passengers with disabilities
• The ability to make coffee while waiting for transport

The project was conceived as a pilot with the prospect of rolling out similar stops throughout the city. The idea was to create a multifunctional space combining transport waiting, digital navigation, and various urban services.

Why was the high-tech shelter dismantled?

According to information provided by the Minsk City Real Estate Center (MGRC), over time most of the stop’s innovative functions ceased to work properly:

• Touch panels failed
• Some charging ports stopped functioning
• Certain call buttons stopped responding
• The view from the stop was blocked by advertisements on the glass surfaces

In 2024, city services began sending official complaints to the tenant of the site — a private company that had installed the shelter. Despite attempts to fix some of the issues, key elements, including the informational touch screen, were never restored. After several notices and the lack of proper action from the tenant, MGRC decided to terminate the lease agreement for the open site unilaterally. The case was taken to court, which ruled in favor of the city authorities. As a result, the dismantling of the facility began at the end of April 2025.

What will replace the “smart stop”?

The intersection at Nemiga will not be left without a bus stop. MGRC representatives reported that a standard modern shelter will be installed in place of the dismantled pavilion, in accordance with Minsk’s approved standards. “The structure will be made of glass and metal, like other new stops in the city,” explained the real estate center. Work on installing the new shelter has already begun and it is expected to be in place before the May holidays. Unlike its high-tech predecessor, the new stop will lack “smart” features and will focus on its primary purpose — providing a comfortable waiting area for public transport.

Six Years Later: Results of the Experiment

In the six years since the “smart stop” was installed on Nemiga, no similar innovative shelters have appeared in Minsk. The single experimental model failed to meet expectations in terms of the reliability and durability of its technological solutions. For coffee lovers who had grown used to brewing a drink while waiting for transport, city authorities offer an alternative — purchasing coffee from the nearby “Belsouzpechat” kiosk. The story of the “smart stop” on Nemiga highlights the challenges of implementing technological innovations in the urban environment and the importance not only of initial installation but also of ongoing maintenance of high-tech urban infrastructure. Perhaps in the future Minsk will return to the idea of “smart stops,” but this time taking into account the lessons of the first experiment.