Here's a peace of information for commuters who are used to that `blind wait' - without a clue on the arrival or departure schedule - for BMTC buses. Keonics in association with Siemens Information Systems is running a pilot project for BMTC to introduce global positioning system (GPS) devices on its fleet. Around 200 buses and 20 bus shelters are going to be part of the project, which will start in a few weeks.
For the full text that appeared in the TOI, click here
Perhaps to counter the periodic reports of accidents its buses are involved in, the BMTC appears to have deviced this strategy of keeping ready a bagful of stories to release to the press whenever required, irrespective of whether there's anything new to them or not. This particular story has been recycled several times already, and tragically so after its dumping the far more user-friendly and innovative "Yelli Iddira?" service, most unceremoniously.
The "Yelli Iddira?" service besides involved minimal costs to everyone concerned. Apparently, therein lay its problem. Moral of the story - if you want to do business with BMTC, package the deal into atleast some tens of crores, 'taking care' of all the 'stake-holders' concerned!
Muralidhar Rao
