Bengaluru: BMTC’s recently launched Intelligent Transport System (ITS), including the android app, has evoked lot of interest among the commuters. Though the BMTC is yet to implement it in full scale, it is proving beneficial to thousands of bus commuters and they want the project to be installed at all bus stations.
At Kempegowda Bus Terminus, which is used by around 5 lakh commuters everyday, BMTC has installed several LCD display boards in some of the platforms on a pilot basis. Information regarding the arrival and departure of buses are displayed on these boards. The information is collected through GPS/GPRS instruments installed in buses and Electronic Ticketing Machine.
According to the passengers even though it is in a testing stage, they are finding it useful. “Information regarding expected time of arrival of buses and various schedules are displayed on these boards. It helps the passenger find out how long they need to wait or whether there is any need to catch alternate buses,” said Raghu Gowda, a daily commuter.
He, however, lamented that these boards are installed only in few platforms at Majestic and this facility is not available in smaller bus stops, including TTMCs at Shivaji Nagar and Shanti Nagar. “BMTC must install these boards everywhere,” Raghu felt.
Many passengers lament that the ITS facility was not available in bus terminuses used by large number of commuters. “After Kempegowda bus terminus, K.R. Market and Shivaji Nagar bus terminus have highest number of schedules and passenger density. It is strange that no LCD display boards were installed here,” said Mohmmed Usman, a trader.
A BMTC officer told this newspaper that ITS facility was receiving a good response from the public. “Initially there may be some problems. But soon LCD display boards will be installed in all major bus terminus and the data received through GPS/GRPS will be put to optimum use,” he said.
