Mysore's public transport system to go high-tech

Mysore, Aug 24 (UNI) The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is developing an 'Intelligent Transport System', the first of its kind in the country, to make travel easier and convenient for the people in the state.

The KSRTC sources told UNI that under the programme, it had been proposed to put in place a passenger information system that used Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographical Information System (GIS).

These technologies would help track bus movements and information on their arrival at bus stops would be fed to the information system, which would be displayed on the electronic display put up at the respective stops. A control room would be established at the city bus stand for the purpose.

KSRTC Divisional Controller (Urban) M N Sreenivas said GPS-enabled bus services were common in Western countries and the Corporation was taking steps to incorporate this technology into its fleet.

''We have sought the help of Sweden to implement the project, since it requires special software having data on routes and bus numbers. The government has sought Rs 25 crore from the World Bank for installing the passenger information system,'' he said.

The KSRTC recently conducted surveys on traffic, marketing and transport, along with top graphical surveys and soil investigation, before conceptualising the project.

About 25 lakh tourists visiting Mysore annually had necessitated upgradation of the public transport system in the city.

Karnataka Transport Minister R Ashok, who visited the city recently, announced that four new bus stations would be built at a cost of Rs 100 crore in the city. Authorities had identified 100 bus stops, of which 50 had been shortlisted for putting up heritage type shelters.

In addition, the KSRTC was planning 100 more modern bus shelters in the city centre and 50 bus shelters in new residential layouts at a cost of Rs 7.12 crore.

The government had prepared a Rs 108 crore-action plan to revamp the transport system of Mysore, keeping the commuters' interests in focus, the sources added.

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