Multi-axle Volvo launched; soon to get GPS

On Saturday the first multi-axle Volvo buses to be used by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) were launched at the Vidhana Soudha by home and transport minister R Ashok.

He announced that soon Global Positioning System (GPS) would be implemented to track the KSRTC vehicles.

GPS would work along with the transport system, he said, adding that the pilot project would be fully operational from March 2012.

“The Centre has approved this scheme under ‘Strengthening of Public Transportation System’ in the country and is financing 50% of this project,” he said.  This scheme will help introduce the latest technologies to track vehicles, and integrate inter-nodal fares and passenger information system services in public transportation,” he added.

How does this help you? This project will provide a passenger information system. Passengers can look-up electronic boards, displayed at bus stations, to know about the arrival and departure of KSRTC buses, pick-up points, route deviations and authorised stops on the travel route.

The tracking device will help the KSRTC control room in Shantinagar by making available information like speed violations, incomplete trips and operations, stoppages at unauthorised places, even assist in locating buses in case of bus theft.

Passengers can get the realtime location of the bus they are waiting to board and also where it will make a halt during the journey. An inspection team from the Centre’s transport ministry will select and authorise these stopovers. Hence, it will cut-down the chance of passengers forcing drivers to stop at local eateries en route.

Gaurav Gupta represented the KSRTC in a meeting held, on November 24, with the central sanctioning committee of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in Delhi. He convinced the ministry that the project would be implemented by KSRTC. MoRTH reciprocated by approving a cost of Rs10.08 crores for the project.

While the capital expenditure on this project will be Rs660 crores, the operational cost will come to about Rs348 crores.

The state will install GPS systems in 800 premium KSRTC buses and 1,200 Karnataka Sarige bus services. Fifty PIS (passenger information display) units will be installed at 32 major bus terminals across the state.

The multi-axle buses come with 340 horse power engines which are the most powerful on Indian roads, they are powered by a nine-litre Euro-III common rail engine. A first of its kind, KSRTC procured five of them to ply to Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai.

These buses are 47-seaters instead of the usual 42-seaters and are longer than the usual Volvos by 1.7 metres.

“There is more leg-room and drop-down LCD TV sets and plush imported interiors provided by Ogilvy and Mather will give passengers an international experience,” said Gaurav Gupta, MD KSRTC.