In four months, commuters in the city will know exactly when their buses will arrive, thanks to a vehicle tracking system that the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will launch on October 31.
The Intelligent Transport System (ITS) will enable commuters to see on digital signboards, in Kannada and English, the precise time when their buses will arrive, said Kumar Pushkar, Director (Information Technology), BMTC.
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All buses would be fitted with global positioning systems (GPS), which would tell, in real time, the location and speed of the bus, he said. Initially, LED TVs will be installed at 35 bus stations and Transit and Traffic Management Centres (TTMCs) . Bus stops will be equipped with LED boards where commuters will get real time information on bus timings. Commuters with no smart phones or net access can send an SMS or dial a toll-free helpline.
Those with smart phones can use a mobile application or check out the BMTC website to find when the bus will come at their stop. The mobile application is being developed on three platforms (Android, Microsoft Windows and iOS), which commuters can download on any smart phone. The ITS is enabled with a central command and control centre located at the BMTC depot in Shantinagar to manage the fleet.
Here, officials will be able to view and monitor all 6,700 buses after they leave their depots. It would be possible to monitor which buses were speeding, bypassing bus stops or deviating from their assigned routes.
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The application will be a two-way vehicle tracking system. The driver can punch a panic button in case of accidents and alert the control centre. At the other end, officials can direct buses stopping too long and suggest alternative routes for buses caught in jams.
The cost of the ITS is Rs. 69 crore . The transport authority is betting on monthly revenue of Rs. 170 crore each month once the system starts.
“We expect returns to be much higher, at least 15 to 20 per cent more each month,” said Mr. Pushkar.
Trimax IT Infrastructure and Services Ltd. is developing the ITS while Globals is developing the mobile application.