‘Your bus will arrive in x minutes’

BANGALORE: Long waits for buses will soon become a thing of the past, as the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is soon to introduce the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) in Mysore.

In addition to providing real-time passenger information, the ITS will provide KSRTC with information on whether a bus is speeding or if the driver has taken a deviation or even missed a bus stop, said C G Anand, Chief mechanical officer, KSRTC.

World Bank will provide a grant of `9.2 crore under its Global Environment Facility for the project, in addition to a `11 crore grant from the Government of India.

The state government and KSRTC will invest `2 crore each, Anand informed.

“Through GPS-enabled navigation systems that are supported by information and communication technologies, each bus will be continuously tracked by a central control station,” he explained, and added that the two-way voice communication system will constantly be able to provide updates on accidents, road blocks or diversions.

The first pilot for the project will be implemented on a select route in Mysore by January next year, while in the next three years, it will be implemented on 500 buses, 105 bus stops, six bus terminals and 45 platforms in Mysore.

The BMTC spokesperson clarified that various projects such as installing passenger updation system and travel and transit management centre (TTMC) are part of ITS project for the city.