Himachal Roadways launches high-tech bus tracking system

The Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC) on Tuesday launched a sophisticated software to track and regulate state-run buses in the state, for passenger safety.

"This is perhaps the most refined software in the country and will give a detailed position of each state roadways bus to the head office through GPRS system," said HRTC Managing Director R N Batta. Officials said the cost of the software was Rs 6.5 crore. "We can now monitor the departure, arrival, breakdown,speed and occupancy of each bus constantly," said Batta.

"In case a bus is over-speeding or over-loaded, a text message will be sent to the conductor and action will be taken against the erring driver," he said. "This system has already been tried as a pilot project and may soon cover all commercial vehicles," state transport minister G S Bali said.

"To improve safety in the next few months, we will cancel licences of buses found violating the norms to carry passengers," Bali said.