Connect on the go

Revamping comfort

With Bengaluru having a mix of people from several places, travelling out of the city is a regular affair for many. This is when customer-friendly features like free Wi-Fi, which are being brought in by KSRTC, NWKRTC and NEKRTC, step in to make the journey more pleasant.

Free internet comes as a blessing to people who are travelling, says Jayaprakash M, deputy manager with a logistics company, who often travels to Palakkad. “When one’s phone network is not accessible, free internet access allows one to communicate and make online phone calls or send messages about their whereabouts to others,” he says.

The entertainment factor works well for people travelling with families or children, feels Jayaprakash. “While one waits to reach their destination, free access to films, internet and entertainment packages eases out the journey,” he adds. Apart from such services, adding more and better charging points would also help regular commuters, he pitches in.

There are many who use these bus services to travel for work or business meetings. A K Sanjeev, a film director who often travels to Chennai and Kochi, says that like many others, he opts to travel in the KSRTC buses due to the affordable tickets and comfortable service. “Adding services like free Wi-Fi will definitely make these buses a top choice even among youngsters. For people who need to make presentations or finish work online while travelling, free Wi-Fi is a great feature,” he says. Sanjeev adds that while introducing such features is an add-on, providing booking preferences for regulars with KSRTC bus services is another feature that can be looked into. For those who travel outside the state using these services, preparing oneself for the weather and happenings at their end destinations becomes easier with free internet access. Rajkumar M M, director of business development at an IT firm, often travels to Hubballi, Mangaluru and Chikkamagaluru. “While one can update one’s family and friends about where they are, they can also access information to prepare themselves for the journey ahead. From booking tickets to arranging accommodation, everything will be possible now on the go. Often businesses get affected when people are travelling, which will not be an issue anymore,” he details.

A senior official from KSRTC informs that around 17,000 buses (which includes KSRTC, NEKRTC and NWKRTC buses) will be equipped with Wi-Fi and infotainment packages. Each passenger will be allowed to download around 10 MB data per day.

The pilot run for this will start with 100 buses and the services will be rolled out in all buses in a phased manner in the upcoming months. He says, “The entertainment package will also include movies in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi and English, cartoon films for children, e-library, music and sports channels.”

“When a movie is played on the common TV or screen, most passengers get disturbed. This move will help personalise entertainment for everyone and make travelling with us a more fun experience,” he adds. The official informs that a half litre packaged drinking water bottle will also be given to people in buses like Airavat, Club Class and Diamond Class.