Track your BMTC bus

The new Passenger Information System will keep commuters informed about timings, stops, roads and landmarks the bus travels along. Your city bus service is taking a leap into the future

The new Passenger Information System will keep commuters informed about timings, stops, roads and landmarks the bus travels along. Your city bus service is taking a leap into the future

TRAVELLING by public buses moves up a notch with BMTC introducing the new Passenger Information System.

The PIS will allow passengers to keep track of bus-stops, roads and landmarks that the bus travels along and the departure and arrival timings at no extra cost. Apart from the display, there will also be frequent announcements in Kannada and English to help commuters.

Fleet of the future: Bangalore gets ready to welcome the latest of it's high-end gizmo-laden buses The JNNURMs

Over 800 new JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) buses will have the in-built GPS (Global Positioning System) and GIS (Geographical Information System) systems while LED displays will also facilitate PIS. The technology will be provided by Ashok Leyland and Tata.

It's a first in Bangalore, said Sampangi Ramgowda, DTO (divisional traffic officer), Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation. "LED displays will be installed in all 40 buses today, but it will take another two weeks to integrate the other systems" he added.

PIS in the remaining buses will be commissioned in two phases over the next six months. Reacting to the development, Professor M N Shrihari, a traffic expert, says: "Passengers can now organise their trips. They need not wait too long as the status of the buses travelling along the route will be made available."

Drivers, beware

The new technology will also help BMTC watch its drivers closely and see if they are adhering to routes and timetables.

"Sometimes at night, three buses travel back-to-back along the same route or change routes according to their convenience, putting passengers in trouble. The system will keep such drivers in check," added Ramgowda.