Mumbaikars await app date on public transport

Commuters often face an endless wait, be it at railway stations or bus stops such as here at Borivli. File pic/Satej Shinde

It may be London, Paris or even Navi Mumbai or Nashik, where public transport is live tracked and passengers are updated. But Mumbai has been facing a jinx when it comes to the basics of live tracking its public transport. Commuters endlessly wait at bus stops and stations expecting arrivals. All efforts so far have come close to a good app for public transport, but never succeeded.

While the BEST Undertaking has been trying to update its app for the past three years, the Central Railways have launched an app aggregating existing databases with timetable-based updates of trains and online bookings but live tracking its local trains remains absent so far. The Western Railway had a station information app named Disha till 2018. The kaali-peeli cab trade union tried to work out an app, but faced multiple issues.

‘Most basic idea'

"Mumbai is the financial capital and a mega city and the most basic thing in public transport will be being able to live track its trains and buses. The bureaucracy-heavy railways and BEST have just lost it in the heap of files and targets and the simplest do-able things are being ignored," Harshad Kumar, a city-based architect said.

Nashik Citylinc bus status and Navi Mumbai bus tracker apps are examples of govt-developed and successful transport apps

"More than jinx it's an irony that the financial capital of India has a public transportation system which is outdated. The city of Kolkata which is often looked down upon as inferior in terms of development, has much better systems in place. Not that government institut-ions can't create quality softwa-re and user interfaces. CoWIN App is an example of a robust IT system," said Paresh Rawal, public policy (transport) expert.

"The BEST had come out with an app about three years ago but it's defunct. The new GM has promised an improved app to provide information to passengers waiting at bus stops or even before starting from their location like home or office. Uber, Ola provide such info. Kaali peeli taxis should also get such a system," senior transport expert with Mumbai Mobility Forum and Mumbai Vikas Samiti, AV Shenoy said.

Officials speak

"The BEST Pravas app is being updated. We are working to have a system in place where online live bus tracking, passenger crowd in real time will be available along with the facility to purchase tickets as well as passes online. Any route diversion/ change

will be available in this facility where you can lodge complaints or suggestions. Once functional, passengers can get Expected Time of Arrival (ETA) of any bus at any bus stop," BEST General Manager Lokesh Chandra said.

"The Yatri app is continuously enhanced to provide improvised services to Mumbai locals commuters. The app under Non-Fare Revenue scheme is being developed in a phased manner. The first phase of the app provides the details of passenger amenities at stations, train timings etc. Real time train status is being developed. This will help commuters to get the location of their desired train," said Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Shivaji Sutar.

"We had an app named Disha that used to offer all possible details and updates of passenger amenities, services. However, we are now looking to upgrade with a better version soon with the latest available technology," Western Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Sumit Thakur said.

Successful government apps

Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport bus tracker: One can track bus movements and get expected time of arrival
Nashik Citylinc Nashik Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal: This has scheduled time, status of journey, bus movement, staff info.