Track CTU buses on mobile phone soon

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 3

From next year, commuters will be able to track the movement of Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) buses on their mobile phone.

The authorities are likely to complete the process of installation of Global Positioning System (GPS) in all local buses by early next year.

An official said the entire bus network in the tricity would be digitally monitored under the Intelligent Transport System (ITS).

The Administration had signed an agreement with the World Bank in 2016 for modernising the CTU bus service. For the installation of Intelligent Transport System in the buses at nearly Rs35 crore, the Transport Department had selected a Gujarat-based company to carry out the project, which was to be completed in three phases.

In the first phase, GPS had been installed in 100 buses and passengers could track the location of these buses on their mobile phone, said the official, adding that the tracking device had also been installed in 73 buses in the second phase, but the trial was still going on.

“The work for the third phase has also commenced and it is set to be completed by early next year,” he said.

After the completion of the work, commuters would be able to track real-time location of all buses on their mobile phone. A mobile app had also been created for this and at present, 100 buses had been added to this app. As many as 73 buses would be added after the completion of the trail of the second phase. Thereafter, the remaining 185 buses would be added to the app after the completion of the third phase of the project, said the official.

The entire fleet of the buses will be monitored in the central control room of the CTU and the authorities can monitor the exact location of buses and load of passengers in each route.

There will be digital display of timings of buses in each bus queue shelter. Passengers will be able to know the exact location and timings of the buses, they need and the alternative routes available for their travel on their mobile phone.