The government-owned transport fleet is shifting gears to hit the hi-tech roadway as it expects a set of new buses that will be equipped with Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) for features such as passenger information system, CCTV and e-ticketing, as well as GPRS and GPS.
The ITS inputs will go with plush push-back seats, superior air suspension and comfy interiors.
The prototype for 40 Tata Starbus semi-low-floor buses, which will include 20 mini-buses to navigate narrow roads and difficult terrain of the hinterland routes, has been approved by the board of the Puducherry Road Transport Corporation (PRTC).
The design and customised specs have been approved by the Central Institute of Road Transport, Pune, under the Ministry of Shipping and Transport.
“We are hoping to add these buses to our fleet shortly,” said P. Devaraj, PRTC Managing Director.
The PRTC is making its newest acquisitions under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Officials say that the PRTC has already fitted GPS-enabled cameras on a portion of its fleet. The infra-red cameras provide real-time images for monitoring at a control room and can enhance safety of women and child passengers, especially on overnight journeys, officials said.
As part of the move towards intelligent pro-passenger systems, the PRTC last week launched e-ticketing services to obviate the need for queuing up before counters.
The online ticketing facility, developed in collaboration with the CIRT and Bangalore-based Radiant Info Systems, allows passengers to book tickets over online over computers or smartphones. Passengers can also make payments using major credit or debit cards. The traveller can even choose the boarding point as well as their seats.
“We expect the online ticketing to be fully functional by next week,” an official said.
Officials expect the e-ticketing facility, along with better amenities on buses, to boost patronage by tourists who get a cheaper alternative to hiring a taxi on the Chennai-Puducherry sector.
The PRTC currently operates a fleet of about 100 buses across design, size and seating variants. Apart from plying buses on short distances in the city and periphery, the PRTC also has mid-range services to destinations such as Chennai, Karaikal and Nagapattinam and inter-State services connecting the city and its enclave in Kerala, Mahe.
In the other enclave in Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, the PRTC operates only on local routes. Its inter-State service to Yanam was suspended owing to low average earnings per km. Some time ago, the operator replaced its ageing bus to the high-demand destination Mahe with a brand new vehicle that had more seats and passenger amenities.
“As a public sector operator we have strengths and limitations…we have to always be mindful of maintaining a balance between meeting rising passenger expectations and fulfilling our social obligations,” Mr. Devaraj said.
In July , the PRTC introduced a fleet of ten air-conditioned Volvo buses to offer a swanky travel option for passengers on its most popular routes. The new buses ply on local routes as well as to Chennai and Karaikal.
Chennai being one of the most patronised routes, the PRTC operates services via ECR and via Tindivanam routes. Officials said that two more services had been recently added to the daily schedules at hourly intervals to Chennai — nine trips via ECR starting from 5.30 a.m. to Chennai as well as their return schedules in the afternoon. There are also four to-and-from Chennai services via the Tindivanam bypass.
