Bus passes for intra-city commuters in Mysuru will go “smart” with the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) planning to introduce prepaid smart cards for daily commuters that can be recharged with ease to avail or renew passes every month.
Such a facility already exists for the commuters using the Bengaluru Metropolitan Trasnport Corporation (BMTC) in Bengaluru.
The Mysuru urban division of KSRTC plans to introduce the facility for which tie-up with a bank is necessary. BMTC had launched open-loop smart card – Transit – for commuters during the launch of Intelligent Transport System (ITS) a few months ago.
Since Mysuru was the first city to get ITS (introduced four years ago), KSRTC has decided to introduce a “smart” solution for contactless transactions besides making the entire process paperless – an eco-friendly step.
Recharge of these cards can be done either at the counters at the bus terminus or with the bus conductor who will be equipped with e-ticketing machines.
The cards can be recharged by swiping them. Recharge can also be done in ATMs of those banks with whom KSRTC will enter into an understanding. In Bengaluru, BMTC has partnered with Axis Bank.
KSRTC Divisional Controller Ramamurthy told The Hindu, “We have this proposal of introducing smart cards for bus commuters. But I cannot say when it will be launched since the concept is still in nascent stage. We have an example of such a system in Bengaluru which we would like to replicate here. It is a new technology for us and we want to introduce with due preparation.”
He said the system can be incorporated for season tickets.
The GPRS-enabled smart cards will be powered by Radio Frequency Identification technology. “It is convenient for us to merge the system since the ITS is already in place here.”
Besides preventing misuse of bus passes, this initiative can reduce long queues for availing or renewing bus passes besides making the entire process paperless.
Mr. Ramamurthy said consultations are on as there is a need to look at its viability as a large number of students and office-goers avail passes for their commuting needs.
