JOIN USThis Mitra is your friend indeed
Now onwards, you can keep track of the city bus. Either just dial the dedicated number, post SMS or take a look at the digital boards installed at the bus shelters.
After successful trial of intelligent road transport system (IRTS) or Mysore intelligent transport (Mitra), Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Saturday launched the system in a full-fledged manner making Mysore the first city in the nation to be equipped with satellite based technology. A joint venture of the transport corporation, it is a reality under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNnurm) with World Bank funding.
It aims at giving real time arrival of the buses at the stops, besides ensuring safety of the passengers. Earlier, the ‘red buses’ as KSRTC buses were described, by its colour, were known for delayed arrival, breakdown in the middle of the road and various other bad reasons. To get rid of the same, the new system promises to make the transport system more commuter-friendly.
For example, if you have still work to finish at office and avoid rushing to the stop at the last minute, a phone call or SMS to the dedicated number will come in handy. It will dispatch information on the real time arrival of the bus.
Launching the service, deputy chief minister R Ashoka who also holds transport and home portfolios, said, 500 buses in the city are fitted with related devices, besides digital boards at 105 bus stops, six bus terminals; city bus stand, Kuvempungar, Yelwal, R S Naidu Nagar and Sathagalli and also 45 platforms. The tourist spots like Zoo, Karanji lake, Chamundi Hills are prominent among other places, where the bus shelters boast of the system.
A control room at the city bus stand with dedicated 20 men on the job will also keep track of the buses through geographical information system (GIS). In case of overspeed red light flickers on the computer screen, and blue in case of slow pace. Green light will flicker if the bus is going at the normal speed. Timely warnings will be dispatched to the driver either to slow down in case of speed and pick up the pace for being slow to reach the waiting passengers in time. The passengers in the bus will be intimated over the stops 30 seconds ahead of the stoppage through interactive voice recording system (IVRS).
Ashoka didn’t forget to mention that the system is on the lines of Air services, where the airports are equipped with real time arrival of flights.
Earlier, managing director of KSRTC N Manjunatha Prasad said, Rs 20 crore is spent on the project. With Mysore being the role model for most of the projects, the very system will help the centre replicate the same in other states. CMC Limited is the IT service provider and IBI has also lent its service.
How to reach
* Dial 0821-2520070
* SMS 9870011012
* www.mitra.ksrtc.in