HRTC launches high-tech bus tracking gps

Shimla :Under fire after a spate of accidents in recent months the Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation(HRTC) on Tuesday launched a sophisticated software to track and regulate the safety of state run buses in the hill state.

“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 MD RN Batta.

It has cost Rs 6.5 crore to make this software, officials said.

“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 stop issuing licences to buses to carry passengers,” Bali added.

Principal secretary Ajay Mittal said road safety will not only cover state roadways buses but all types of private vehicles.

Transport minister Bali said with the adding of many new buses to the HRTC’S fleet occupancy had gone up and in the last six months the revenue was Rs 115 crore more as compared to the previous year.

Bali also informed that the Himachal transport department has now been renamed Himachal road,safety & transport department.

The new name would come into effect soon after the cabinet clears it in its next meeting.