In its first step of modernising public transportation in order to improve passenger safety, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is going to make its bus services more intelligent and modernised. The KSRTC will introduce GPS-based live bus tracking and a panic button system in every bus at the time of use in a fleet of 6,063 buses.
For years, KSRTC passengers have been struggling to find out when and how buses would come in. If they couldn’t know where their bus was at bus stops, if it had been delayed, or if it had experienced any mechanical problems on the way, they would be stuck. It had to be frustrating for commuters travelling long distances or at night.
To address this issue, KSRTC has started installing vehicle location tracking devices (VLTD) and GPS chips on buses to track their location. Once the application is fully implemented, passengers can track the exact location of their bus and receive a notification from the bus management about where it is. This is going to make travel much easier and enable passengers to plan their journey more efficiently.
The move is part of a wider campaign based on guidelines issued by the central government after the Delhi Nirbhaya case. The government had to install Vehicle Location Tracking Devices and panic buttons on every yellow board commercial vehicle across the country following the incident.
In line with these directions, the Karnataka Transport Department has been working to equip public transport vehicles with the required technology. KSRTC has already made remarkable progress in this regard. In total, GPS-enabled VLTD systems have been installed in 2,344 buses of its 6,063 buses. The company also started tendering to install and use the technology on the remaining 3,743 buses in phases.
One of the most important parts of the modernisation project is the establishment of one central command centre. This centre will be where we can track buses around the state, and they will be able to go through it and track their route, how efficiently they are operating efficiently and react quickly to a disaster or a breakdown. The command centre is the nerve centre for controlling KSRTC’s new fleet.
The introduction of panic buttons will also be an important safety measure. The buttons will be installed in the buses, and passengers will use them in case of emergency. When a passenger, especially a woman on board, is harassed, feels unsafe and in a medical emergency during a trip, they can activate the panic button. Once it is pressed, an alert will be sent immediately to the command centre, which will then be transmitted to transport authorities and local police immediately and quickly.
The initiative would create a safer journey for KSRTC bus passengers with more security in place, especially when they travel at night and in remote locations. GPS tracking and alarm systems for public transport will, according to safety experts, curb criminal activity and raise confidence of the sector’s operators and passengers on public transport services.
Passengers have welcomed the change, describing it as a much-needed upgrade for Karnataka’s public transport system. Many believe that the ability to track buses in real time and get emergency assistance when needed will make travel more convenient and secure.
If KSRTC continues to embrace digital and smart transport solutions and technology for the public transportation sector, the corporation is positioning itself as a leader in public transportation innovation and the future of the industry. The initiative is a sign of a more dedicated service for passengers with a greater emphasis on customer-driven service, safety, and digital inclusion in Karnataka and the bus traffic for millions of commuters has become smarter, safer and more reliable.
