Ahmedabad

Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) today launched first phase of Global Positioning System (GPS) based Bus Tracking and Monitoring in its express category buses. First phase launched today covers all express buses of Ahmedabad division.

Location of a bus, expected time of arrival etc details are to be received through this system by control room. There are five buttons fixed in buses. They are for brake fail, engine fail, accident, immediate contact and spare bus allocation. Whenever driver will push a button, concerned divisional control room will get message. The GPS system will also help the officials in getting updates every 20 seconds and monitor if the bus is taking a detour or was stopping at unauthorized spots. Divisional depot manager and other officials will be able to do monitoring round the clock. Central control room covering entire state and all divisions will be located at Naroda facility of GSRTC. GSRTC plans to install GPS system in all its express buses by the end of the month of April this year. The data received through the system will also be recorded when needed.

Under the passenger system, each division will have LED system which will showcase timetable, arrival and departure time etc details.

According to Pankaj Kumar, the vice-president and managing director of GSRTC, the move aims to modernize the public transport facilities in the state and aid drivers on a need-basis. If successful with the express buses GPS will be installed on regular buses too. Of the total around 9000 ST buses around one fourth are from express category.

GSRTC came into existence on May 1, 1960 on formation of Gujarat. From a modest beginning of 7 divisions, 76 depots and 7 divisional workshops and a fleet of a little over 1750 buses it has gone to 16 Divisions, 126 Depots, 226 bus stations,1,554 pick up stands and around 9000 buses.

Ministers speaks to media after launching the GPS system

“We were discussing GPS system for last many years. Gujarat will be the first state in India in which govt run buses will have GPS,” Rupani told media persons.

“Time of departure and arrival of a bus and its platform number will be conveyed to passengers through voice and screen with the help of this system,” he added.

“In Ahmedabad division, all express buses have GPS now, and control room has been set up for that. By April-end all express buses will have GPS across the state,” he further said.

“We are planning that how these details derived from the new system can be made available to passengers in their mobile phones,” he said.

“Shri Narendrabhai Modi had started converting bus stations into bus ports. You can see such bus-port here at Geeta Mandir ST bus station. We are going to dedicate two bus stations that are revamped in bus-port style soon. Works will be completed next month. We are also going to issue tenders for other 15 bus stations shortly,” he said.

Rupani said the first phase covers GPS installation in 2527 express buses. In the second phase it will cover over 5000 buses.

Minister of State Shri Shankarbhai Chaudhary said, “after e-ticket, e-tendering, online reservation, electronic ticket machine, Gujarat ST has today added GPS technology, and thus provided one more latest facility to passengers.”

– DeshGujarat