APSRTC is introducing GPS-GPRS technology to enable regular passengers and those travelling in city buses to track the location of buses and plan their journey accordingly.
The technology VTS (Vehicle Tracking System) will help APSRTC provide information to passengers on arrival of buses. The information is shown on LCD and LED screens to be installed at 102 stages in the Hyderabad city and at 87 locations in different districts.
The technology is supposed to be beneficial to APSRTC to maintain punctuality and to track the vehicle’s location. In case of breakdown or any delay, authorities can easily track the location of the concern bus and arrange another bus. Through monitoring in the main control room, can detect the drivers cutting short the trips or skipping stages too.
Under a pilot project, APSRTC is planning to install the GPS-GPRS facility in 1,500 long distance buses and in 2,000 city buses. The long distance buses operating on the Vijayawada – Tirupati, Hyderabad – Karimnagar, Hyderabad – Bangalore, Hyderabad – Vijayawada.
Under this technology, the buses will have two surveillance cameras with a maximum limit of 48 hour storage and come in handy during any untoward incidents. Four exclusive control rooms are to be established at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Bus Bhavan and Picket. The cost for this project is estimated Rs. 18 crore and which is funded by the Central government. CMC Limited is taking this project. For maintenance and operation, APSRTC needs to pay Rs. 350 per bus per month to CMC Limited.
Source – The Hindu