Now, read your bus’s mind!

Now, read your bus’s mind!
The BMTC is all set to introduce the Passenger Information System in bus stops
SUCHITH KIDIYOOR


Waiting without a clue for that Volvo bus to arrive at your bus-stop? Well, here’s some good news! The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is all set to flag off the Passenger Information System (PIS) in its bus stops!
To start with, the PIS will be installed in 20 major bus shelters on the Bangalore International Airport (BIA) routes. With this, passengers will be able to get real-time information on Volvo bus arrivals. The PIS panels fitted in these bus-shelters will display information pertaining to route numbers, destinations, type of bus service, expected time of arrival of buses, vehicle numbers and other details. The PIS will work with the help of the Global Positioning System (GPS). The information will be displayed in both English and Kannada.
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, BMTC director (projects) P K Garg, said,”We have already fitted GPS technology in 200-odd buses. Shortly, we will install PIS panels in bus shelters all along BIA routes. It will help passengers to access real time information of bus arrivals to a particular station. It will also promote Volvo bus services operated by the Corporation.”
It may be recalled that installation of PIS in bus shelters as well as inside buses was a long pending project of the BMTC. Though it had cleared the tender of a private firm, it could not go ahead with the plans because of a row over advertisements between the supplier and Bruhath Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) which constructs the bus shelters. Earlier, it had planned to install PIS panels in 80 bus shelters on 12 routes from the city to the international airport. This time, however, the BMTC is confident of clearing all hurdles and of installing the PIS in bus shelters with the help of KEONICS.
An official of the BMTC said that the Corporation has already installed PIS panels in three bus shelters in the city including the Shantinagar bus shelter. The BMTC has identified 20 bus shelters at various points in the city which includes Marathalli, Mekhri Circle, Hebbal, Malleshwaram, Shivajinagar, Majestic bus stand, Jayanagar and other areas. This time, the BMTC has decided that it will not display any kind of advertisements in PIS panels. It will only display real time information for the benefit of passengers.
PIS TO PROMOTE VOLVO SERVICES
BMTC which operates 300 odd city Volvo buses and 63 Vayu Vajra buses to the BIAL has not yet found good occupancy rates in all the routes. Installation of PIS in bus shelters will help the BMTC to increase occupancy. “Now passengers are clueless about bus arrival timings. Hence, the poor occupancy rates,” said an official.“If the PIS project proves successful, we will extend the project to all the areas in the city. We also have plans to install the PIS in Volvo buses which ply to BIAL,” the official added.