Gujaratstartups, AHMEDABAD: For the first time the new integrated transit management system (ITMS) to be installed for the BRTS, feeder buses and AMTS buses in the city has moved beyond the step of just tracking buses on road. The ITMS system would be informing the drivers of buses of the condition of road ahead, besides helping drivers find the best route to their destination, and changing that route if major incidents occur on the road.

A policy document prepared by Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (AJL) states that the system would be designed for providing real time information of catastrophic incidents and prompting for immediate response, whether it be accidents, ticket-less travellers, law and order related incidents.

A two-way communication system between the driver and the control room via wireless would play a key role in this set up. AJL has already floated a proposal for the system to invite IT companies for the purpose.

"The information shared would be by one driver to the control room. The system would be utilised to inform other buses of any problem that lies ahead on the route. Traffic congestion and calamities would immediately be marked on the Geographical Information System (GIS) map on display," says a senior member of AJL.

Besides, speed of the buses, how many times did the driver brake during the journey to the profile of customers boarding the bus would be recorded in the system to assess operational requirements of service.

The official further adds, "Even reporting commuters real time on their mobile phones of the status of the buses would be enabled through this system. Tomorrow if we have a monorail, metro rail, regional rail or the AMTS, the ITMS system can be upgraded to integrate the BRTS with all these networks. The concept called, seamless travel, will allow commuters to travel in all these mediums of transportation with a single swipe card and to board or alight from a common station that has all the different modes of transport."

Source: Times of India