22.11.08

GPS introduced in Ahmedabad's buses

Buses skipping stops will soon become a thing of the past. So will overloaded buses and speeding. Recently, Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) installed a vehicle-tracking system, Global Positioning System (GPS) in 37 low-floored CNG buses run by private operators plying on Vasna routes. The facility will be introduced in 200 more buses in a month. A control room at Jamalpur Bus Depot will monitor bus movement and intervene when drivers speed or skip designated bus stands. This is part of upgrade of AMTS which plans to become a quality feeder service to Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS). Deputy municipal commissioner and incharge of AMTS, MS Patel says, “This is part of a modernisation process. Installing GPS facility will help us efficiently manage buses on different routes in the city.” Not only will GPS help AMTS streamline its own services, more importantly, it will keep a constant watch on movement of privately-run buses on AMTS routes, he adds. AMTS will use satellite technology and advanced computer modelling to track buses on its routes. Each bus will be fitted with a satellite tracking system which will take into account actual position of buses, intended stops and typical traffic patterns on different routes. According to experts, the system can estimate bus arrivals with a high degree of accuracy and this data will be updated constantly. GPS will also keep an eye on traffic variations, bus breakdowns and day-to-day problems faced by any bus provider which can interrupt AMTS service. The existing fleet of AMTS buses on city roads is 850.

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