BMTC to go ‘intelligent’ in 15 days, staff training starts
'Intelligent Transport System’ will be extended to all the depots in the next 15 days
Bengaluru: An ambitious project by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), the ‘Intelligent Transport System’, which is currently being tried out as a pilot at the Yelahanka depot, will be extended to all other depots in the next 15 days.
In fact, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation has already started training 10 depot managers per day and it is confident that in two-and-a-half months, ITS will be rolled out full-fledged at all depots.
With it, Bengaluru will become the first city in the country to have such a massive IT-enabled service to control its transport system.
Mammoth task
Mr Biswajit Mishra, IT head, BMTC, told Deccan Chronicle, “It is a mammoth task to train the entire BMTC staff. But we have already started doing it. Depot managers will have access to LCD monitors where they can track the buses coming in and going out from a particular depot, the routes taken by them and other information. Currently, work on the backend operations is going on and we are installing the vehicle tracking units.”
Initially, the BMTC faced problems receiving data from the GPS, but it has since been resolved.
Mr Mishra said, “We are looking at a system that gives us turbulence-free data, and this system is going to be a blessing for us. We will monitor the time taken by all the buses. Sometimes we might assume that a certain distance takes around two hours, while in reality it might take more time. Then, we will reschedule the bus. So, many changes are expected once ITS comes into force.”
App to track buses
The BMTC recently launched an Android app with a lot of fanfare, to help commuters track buses and to tap into other services of the corporation. But those who have downloaded the app say that it is of little help to them.
Mr Mishra said, “We are going through the app and it is currently facing some problems. We will sort it out soon. We are also looking at adding some more features. The app will become more effective once ITS comes into force.”
The app includes a trip planner, places of interest nearby and fare calculation. You can select the to and fro points, and it will list all the routes that connect the two locations. The app also comes with a complaint management system and one can use it to post complaints and other grievances by the general public.