The much-hyped plans of APSRTC to install LCD television sets in city buses to provide entertainment for commuters seems to have been kept on a backburner for different reasons.
Last year, authorities had planned to install LCD television sets in air-conditioned and JNNURM buses under phase I of the project. The corporation had entered into a pact with a private firm for installing television sets in buses.
Under the pact, it was duty of the company to install television sets and telecast some programmes. Accordingly, television sets were installed in a few buses and trial runs were also conducted for few days.
But there were some technical glitches and the project did not take off from then, says a senior official.
Financially unviable
“The company authorities had also informed that they were trying to rectify the problems and shortly install television sets in rest of the buses. But it's been close to one year and things are not looking bright,” he says.
The corporation's objective behind installing televisions in buses was to generate revenue by telecasting commercial advertisements, propagate its offers and services to commuters besides, providing entertainment to commuters. Apart from technical glitches, the project appears to have got affected due to financial viability. Except for few film production houses and government organisations not many corporate companies were keen to provide advertisements. And this was adversely affecting the project, he explains.
More importantly, many commuters are suggesting the corporation to cancel the television project and install radio service for entertainment in buses. All these aspects would be considered and a decision would be taken shortly, adds the official.
