The Hindu 06.05.2010
JNNURM buses to go hi-tech
Staff Reporter
VISAKHAPATNAM: The trendy, low floor JNNURM buses being operated by APSRTC will soon get passenger-friendly features like public announcement system and CCTV cameras as part of the Intelligent Transport System (ITS), according to Executive Director (Engineering and IT) of APSRTC U. Sudhakara Rao.
Addressing a media conference here on Wednesday, he said that the system was already introduced in Hyderabad on a trial basis and was found to be a success. The name of the bus stops and the time it would take to reach them would be announced on the mike.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) would also enable the authorities to track the movement of the buses and to disseminate information to the travelling public. Passengers waiting for buses could also send an SMS to a toll free number and get instant information on buses plying on a particular route
He said that 1,540 buses were sanctioned to AP under the JNNURM scheme. While the Centre has allocated Rs.184 crores, RTC has spent Rs.264 crores on purchase of these buses. All the 200 JNNURM buses allocated to Visakhapatnam have already been deployed. Of the 1,000 allocated to Hyderabad, 604 have been deployed and the remaining 396 would be put into service by August-end.
A total of 240 CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) buses were allocated to Vijayawada under the scheme and 117 have already been deployed. The remaining would be operated by August.
Ticket vending machines: Mr. Sudhakara Rao said that 8,000 ticket vending machines would be introduced in ‘Palle Velugu' (rural) buses in the State. The machines apart from ease of operation and speedy service would help in getting accurate information on passenger movement.
