GSRTC goes hi-tech, set to provide value added services

The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC), with its objective to sustain business on long-term basis, has set a new trend by installing hi-tech devices such as vehicle tracking system, e-ticketing machine, mobile phones facility, etc in buses. This system will provide value addition to the passengers and inturn, reciprocate the competition from private operators.

"Our objective is to go for zero per cent loss by the end of 2007-08. The modernisation is a part of the agenda to provide value-addition to the services that GSRTC has been providing till now," said G L Aloria, MD, GSRTC. He was in Rajkot to inaugurate Vehicle Tracking system Pilot Project; which is operational using a Global Positioning System (GPS).

After the success of introducing CNG buses in the state, GSRTC revenues have shot-up. "Therefore, we intend to add features with an objective to divert more people to travel by GSRTC buses, but with a better comfort level," he added.

Aloria said, "With the installation of the tracking devices in two buses of Gondal-Udaipur route will help us monitor complete activity of the vehicle via satellite link interfaced with an Internet website, and the same could be monitored from our control room, which is presently based at Rajkot."

"By April end, we are planning to install such devices in 100 buses across the city and later, we will add another 1,700 buses, comprising luxury buses, semi-luxury, super express, vide this network," he added. There are approximately 1,800 buses in this category and are mainly long-route buses, he added.

Presently, these devices are being purchased by GSRTC. Mumbai-based company, Arya Omnitalk Wireless Solutions, is the network service provider for this facility. Talking to Business Standard, Pradeep V, head of Mobile Data Applications, western region, said, "This is basically a fleet tracking facility. Customers can track the speed, location and other information about the vehicles by using an Internet website.

"Further explaining estimated project cost for this facility, he added, In the initial phase, expenses of the project is likely to reach Rs 18 lakh as, GSRTC is using our network and they are purchasing the devices, but in long-run, they will create their own network as GSRTC is targeting to monitor fleet of 2,000 vehicles though satellite based GPS connectivity. This GPS is estimated to be of around Rs 8-10 crore, he added. This is the first of its kind project in India, Pradeep said.

GSRTC have also tied-up with Airtel and have installed mobile phone service in 1,000 buses in the first phase which, mainly include long-route semi-luxury buses. Here passengers can make outgoing calls as per the company's tariff, by availing mobile phone from the bus conductor and paying him accordingly for the calls made, explained Alorai.

About e-ticketing, Aloria said, "We have already installed 100 e-ticketing machines at Palanpur bus-depot. We have ordered more 200 machines and are likely to lace balance 1,500 buses with e-ticketing facilities by the end of July 2006."

In an exclusive version to BS on whether, GSRTC was anticipating any privatisation or corporate entity participation in future, Aloria said, "We are not foreseeing any privatisation of GSRTC or any corporate entity participation in near future, rest it all depends how its being perceived in long run, based on the performance of GSRTC, as we are focussed on boosting the productivity and performance of GSRTC."