Karnataka: Over 8,300 KSRTC buses to be tracked in real time; tender floated

KSRTC Ambaari Utsav Volvo 9600

As many as 8,300 buses of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will soon be tracked in real-time. KSRTC recently floated a tender to implement the Vehicle Tracking and Monitoring System (VTMS) for its buses.

The VTMS project will enable passengers to track all 8,305 KSRTC buses, which make 85,000 daily trips, in real-time through a dedicated mobile app, officials said.

"We plan to launch this vehicle tracking app by June 2025… Time is valuable for everyone, whether they’re heading to the hospital or work," KSRTC managing director V Anbukumar told Moneycontrol.

The project, which will cost Rs 30 crore, will be funded 60 percent by the Centre and 40 percent by the state government, he said.

KSRTC studied  Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd’s real-time truck monitoring for the app, he said.

KSRTC plans to include an accident monitoring system as well, as these mishaps cost over Rs 100 crore annually, including compensations, Anbukumar said.

The system will track speeding, route violations, etc. The plan is to reduce accidents and ensure buses follow their routes, which will also reduce accidents as well as financial burden on the corporation, the MD said.

“Every bus in this fleet will be seamlessly integrated into VTMS and equipped with state-of-the-art tracking and monitoring capabilities,” a KSRTC official said, requesting not to be identified as he is not allowed to speak to media.

All buses will have vehicle location tracking devices (VLTD) and emergency buttons, the official said.

Also read: Karnataka: KSRTC to roll out non-AC seater-cum-sleeper buses

As part of the project, 7,207 buses will be equipped with new on-bus units. As many as 1,286 buses and 50 electric buses already fitted with AIS-140 devices will be integrated into the VTMS project.

A command-and-control centre will monitor both incidents and bus operations, another official said.

“This project leverages technologies including Global Positioning System (GPS), Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), mobile applications, and data storage,” the official said.

Centre's guidelines

The Centre has mandated the implementation of AIS-140-compliant tracking systems in all public transport vehicles, along with panic buttons.

Vehicles that do not comply with this standard will have their registration suspended (for existing vehicles) or withheld (for new vehicles), the union road transport ministry has said.

Also read: KSRTC inducts 20 trucks into cargo arm, aims Rs 100 cr annual revenue by 2025

VTMS integrated with Karnataka State's Emergency Response Support System will ensure emergency alerts are directly routed to the police department.

“The integration with VAHAN, as per AIS-140 specifications, is also planned to ensure regulatory compliance,” an official said.

Vahan is a national vehicle registry created by the road transport ministry, which manages vehicle registration, taxes, permits, and enforcement.

Also read: Karnataka wins legal tussle against Kerala over the use of 'KSRTC'

KSRTC a 'pioneer in adopting IT'

Officials said KSRTC has been a pioneer in adopting IT. KSRTC's primary objective is to integrate IT into its day-to-day operations and bring all staff under the digital framework, they said.

A few years ago, KSRTC deployed Intelligent Transport Systems in Mysuru city and for express services covering around 2,000 buses.

It significantly improved operational efficiency, fuel consumption, safety, and traffic management. “The VTMS project will also be a major step forward in creating a safer, more reliable, and commuter-friendly public transport system,” an official said.