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Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) is planning to extend it’s services of buses by integrating with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation to help passengers travelling by rail, says Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan , Managing Director of UPSRTC, in conversation with Elets News Network (ENN).

Kindly give us an overview of UPSRTC schemes.

The corporation embarked on a scheme for passenger centric Intelligent Trans – port Management System (ITMS) in 2013-14. UPSRTC is the pioneer state transport corporation, which has undertaken a comprehensive project of this nature.

Smart card passes were introduced in 2014-15 and registration has crossed 1.35 lakhs. These cards are issued by banks – ICICI and SBI -and are combo cards with prepaid travel wallet and shopping wallet in magnetic swipe card. They have gained popularity owing to convenience of operations, no requirement of cash/change and discounts. UPSRTC is also planning to extend services of bus services by integrating with IRCTC to help passengers travelling with rail.

What all eGovernance and mGovernance initiatives have been implemented by UPSRTC for better services delivery?

What are major challenges in implementing IT initiatives? There was manual ticketing system through denominations tickets, manual reconciliation of revenue and no facilities for ticket status tracking, advance reservation and public information system. Also, there was no method to monitor the state run buses on regularity, punctuality, unauthorised halts, over speeding and unscheduled operations.

We have introduced web-based online tickets and advance reservations, mobile based ticketing, current counter tickets, use of hand held point of sales machines (ETMs) for on-board- tickets and introduction of smart card travel cards and passes. Then we have introduced GPS based vehicle tracking which ensures real-time tracking of all moving buses for operations control, arrival and departure information and disaster management.

We have started a passenger information system which gives real-time updates about the bus arrival and departures, journey plan – ner, LCD displays at bus stations; automatic announcement systems.

UPSRTC has a plan to implement CCTV surveillance on buses for women safety?

What is the current status of this new scheme? We are planning to go in for implementation of CCTV surveillance on buses for women safety for which a proposal is under consideration with the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, and Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Many state transport units have tied up with mobile payment wallets for payment convenience of passengers. Does UPSRTC also have any such plans?

We are planning to tie up with mobile payment wallets like PayTM, Pocket by ICICI, Airtel Money, etc. for payment convenience of passengers.

UPSRTC is set to launch a high speed connecting bus service in the state inspired by India’s fastest train Gatiman Express as part of growing and expanding transport sector. When is it planned?

UPSRTC has been able to operate at lowest cost per km in the country since 2004-05 and has continuously won the lowest cost of operations award every year. It has been our endeavour to monitor all major cost components and contain the staff cost to around 40 per cent level with a mix of regular and contractual staff and fuel cost at around 33 per cent level. A system of standard costing and variance analysis is in place to help us monitor this. We are also planning tie-ups with taxi aggregators like Uber, Ola rides, etc. for integrated booking and last mile connectivity on our booking portals. We intend to provide AC services in all ordinary services in the long run as

We intend to provide AC services in all ordinary services in the long run as change of preferences, purchasing power and ambient temperatures in North India are the triggers for the change.

Our vision is to convert passenger road trans – port from a compulsion in an absence of options to a matter of choice. The road infrastrucrture in the State which includes new expressways, 4 laning, etc. and more comfortable bus technology shall be our prime focus. We intend to provide AC Janrath bus services to passengers travelling by Gatiman Express at both rail heads under the JV scheme with IRCTC. Passengers would use the integrated ticket for travelling.

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