<p>Meeting the long-pending demand, Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is now available in a new avatar with the launch of ‘Awatar’, its Android Application (app) for mobile phones.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Available on Google Play, the app, a senior official from the KSRTC’s marketing division, said: “It is a replacement for the website. One can do everything the website allows people to do.”<br /><br />Stating that more than 500 people have already downloaded the app in just four days of its launch, the official said the initiative was pending on the Corporation’s drawing board for sometime.<br /><br />“When tickets are booked on the website, passengers get the details on their email and through an SMS. We had seen that most people use the internet on the mobile and show us the email using their phones, instead of SMS. A mobile app, will thereby, go a long way in easing the procedures of booking or cancellation of tickets, besides performing other tasks done online,” he said.<br /><br />Good response<br /><br />Passengers seem to agree. Ishwar Nirale, a software engineer, while giving a high rating for the app, said: “A great app. Simply download it. Works awesome.”<br /><br />Stating that he has already booked tickets using the app, he said it has a “great user interface.”<br /><br />Pramod Kumar, another user while appreciating KSRTC’s effort, said: “...But it needs a better exit option. It simply would not exit.” <br /><br />Among other things, users have found that the app needs to have options of booking two-way journey tickets and also add other payment options.<br /><br />Presently, payment only using ICICI network is included. The official said the Corporation was looking into various options and that this was just the launch.<br /><br />He, however, could not confirm if apps for iOS and Windows will also be launched. Many KSRTC agents and third party booking agencies already provide passengers with such a facility. But this is the official app, he added.<br /><br />AP services restored partially<br /><br />Inter-state bus operations to Andhra Pradesh, suspended for two days owing to Telangana trouble, have been revived partially. “About 50 per cent of the buses will begin operations from tonight (Friday night), but whether they can enter Andhra Pradesh (AP) or not will depend on the situation at the border. The police there will take a call,” a KSRTC official said.<br /><br />He, however, also said that the services could be further suspended if they get a warning about adverse situation in the neighbour state.</p>
<p>Meeting the long-pending demand, Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is now available in a new avatar with the launch of ‘Awatar’, its Android Application (app) for mobile phones.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Available on Google Play, the app, a senior official from the KSRTC’s marketing division, said: “It is a replacement for the website. One can do everything the website allows people to do.”<br /><br />Stating that more than 500 people have already downloaded the app in just four days of its launch, the official said the initiative was pending on the Corporation’s drawing board for sometime.<br /><br />“When tickets are booked on the website, passengers get the details on their email and through an SMS. We had seen that most people use the internet on the mobile and show us the email using their phones, instead of SMS. A mobile app, will thereby, go a long way in easing the procedures of booking or cancellation of tickets, besides performing other tasks done online,” he said.<br /><br />Good response<br /><br />Passengers seem to agree. Ishwar Nirale, a software engineer, while giving a high rating for the app, said: “A great app. Simply download it. Works awesome.”<br /><br />Stating that he has already booked tickets using the app, he said it has a “great user interface.”<br /><br />Pramod Kumar, another user while appreciating KSRTC’s effort, said: “...But it needs a better exit option. It simply would not exit.” <br /><br />Among other things, users have found that the app needs to have options of booking two-way journey tickets and also add other payment options.<br /><br />Presently, payment only using ICICI network is included. The official said the Corporation was looking into various options and that this was just the launch.<br /><br />He, however, could not confirm if apps for iOS and Windows will also be launched. Many KSRTC agents and third party booking agencies already provide passengers with such a facility. But this is the official app, he added.<br /><br />AP services restored partially<br /><br />Inter-state bus operations to Andhra Pradesh, suspended for two days owing to Telangana trouble, have been revived partially. “About 50 per cent of the buses will begin operations from tonight (Friday night), but whether they can enter Andhra Pradesh (AP) or not will depend on the situation at the border. The police there will take a call,” a KSRTC official said.<br /><br />He, however, also said that the services could be further suspended if they get a warning about adverse situation in the neighbour state.</p>
