Invisible bus bays (IBB) are your answer to rid commuter woes of erratic parking by BMTC buses at bus stops, according to City-based firm — Neosphere.
The IBB system comes with two main components: digital signal poll (DSP) installed at bus stops and on board control unit (OBCU) in buses that ply along the route. As soon as a bus approaches the stop, the DSP catches the bus number through OBCU installed in the vehicle and related information displayed on the signage.
The bus driver has to park the vehicle in the signal range created by DSP failing which a complaint message is sent to the control room.
According to Neosphere Chief Chetan Prasad the proposal has been submitted to Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). With IBB in place, it would be possible to identify and mark the location of bus stops so that bus bay area can be virtually marked. No additional physical infrastructure is necessary.
Another advantage is to control the distance from kerb where bus stops at these designated spots, an activity presently left to whims and fancies of bus drivers, he said. IBB is the only way to tackle reckless drivers, Chetan said, adding it can also be scaled to provide passenger information (PIS), fleet management, vehicle tracking etc in combination with Intelligence Transport System.
Questioned about multiple buses arriving, Chetan claimed IBB won’t allow the next bus to move ahead till the first vacates the stop.
However, in cases, if there are no passengers for second or third bus, there is an option, which allows drivers to overtake the parked bus. Drivers can’t misuse it as it would be monitored real time as part of control room mechanism. Also, other vehicles like cars etc can enter the bus bay, when there are no buses, but they are not allowed to park, he said.
The DSP and OBCU per bus stop would cost around Rs 30,000 said the firm’s staffer. Confirming about IBB proposal, a BMTC official said they might implement the system at selected bus stops as a pilot project shortly.