March 15: The Bengal government today launched an Android app that enables commuters to track buses on a map in real time, informs them about the buses that would go to their destination and when a particular bus is likely to reach where they are waiting.

Pathadisha (pathfinder), the name given to the app by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, currently tracks 700 state buses plying in and around Calcutta. The plan is to extend the app's coverage to 40,000 private buses in the city and its fringes.

The transport department has convened a meeting with private bus operators next week to bring them on board.

Supported by the World Bank and developed by a private technology company called Ideation, the app can help the user search a particular route and track an approaching bus. For a particular bus on a specific route, the app would show the list of stops along with the ETA (estimated time of arrival) for each stop. Colour coding helps the user tell which stops the bus has crossed and how many more are left.

Once downloaded from the official Android app store Google Play, the app can help a commuter plan a trip according to the availability of buses on a particular stretch at a given time. Each of these vehicles would be fitted with a GPS system to enable tracking.

"This is part of the state government's effort to offer a smart and transparent transportation system for commuters," transport minister Suvendu Adhikari said. "We will add another 300 state buses in quick time. Private bus operators would be included in this initiative within a short time."

Sources in the transport department said the app would help the newly created West Bengal Transport Corporation - the Calcutta State Transport Corporation, Calcutta Tramways Corporation and the West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation have been merged - devise viable operational strategies based on the time taken by a particular bus to complete a trip, the popularity of certain routes and the earnings per trip.

"We are also planning to set up electronic boards at 30 points across different bus stops in the city so that commuters are able to see how many buses are running and their locations," a senior official said.

The need for an app to track buses in real time was felt when the transport department was trying to find a way to reduce the burden of an annual subsidy of nearly Rs 700 crore. A detailed analysis of the points of pilferage and causes of low earnings per trip convinced the team of senior officials that a bus tracking system would help solve these problems.

Smart cards will come next. "Smart cards can be used across 700 buses that have an e-ticketing system. The minimum amount would be Rs 100 and maximum Rs 4,000. This would reduce pilferage in our system," transport secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said.

Many buses already have conductors carrying portable machines that can print tickets. Smart cards can be swiped on such machines. Smart cards would initially be available at Garia, Jadavpur and Karunamoyee. More locations would be added within a month.

Dress code

A smart uniform to go with a smartphone app. The West Bengal Transport Corporation today unveiled its new uniform for drivers and conductors - the grease-stained khaki of old making way for navy blue trousers and sky blue shirts bearing the message "Save Drive Safe Life".