Patna: Now, app to locate buses

PATNA: The Bihar State Road Transport Corporation Limited (BSRTC) on Saturday launched ‘Chalo’ mobile application to track ring route buses running on several routes on a map in real time.
According to officials, the app integrates all the BSRTC buses of Patna into a single live-tracking and journey planner tool.

Once downloaded, this mobile app can help a commuter plan a trip according to the availability of buses on a route at a given time. BSRTC buses are fitted with GPS system to enable the tracking. On this app, people can also locate the bus stops in the city.

Transport secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal said, “Initially, the app will track city and intercity buses. Soon, this app will also show the location of interstate buses on Bihar-UP and Bihar-Jharkhand routes.”

He said the app would become a one-stop destination for all commuting needs. It can be used in other states and cities as well to locate the buses plying there, he added.

Agarwal claimed the app would benefit over 30,000 daily bus commuters in Patna and it would also help residents to find the cheapest trip options to their destination. “We will soon launch electronic ticketing for buses so that passengers can avail national common mobility card (NCMC) and purchase tickets on their mobile phones as well,” he said.

Vaibhav Malhotra, who downloaded the app, posted a review: “Real time updates through this app will help in managing time effectively. I would like to thank the owner of this app (sic).”

College student Anushka Shrivastava said, “I take city buses from Phulwarisharif to Gandhi Maidan six days a week. Sometimes, I wait for more than 20 minutes for the bus. This app will help me locate the bus and I will no longer need to wait for the bus on the stand for a long period.”