HUBBALLI
When a woman passenger suffered a heart attack recently on Bendre Nagara Sarige buses, the control room staff observed it and instructed the bus conductor to take the unconscious passenger to the hospital immediately. Bendre city buses, which have been in operation since 2003, are now being monitored from a control room set up in Dharwad and via the mobile phones of bus owners. They have joined hands with Chalo, India's number one bus transport technology company, to monitor CCTV cameras in buses, the behaviour of drivers, passenger crowding, cashless transactions, and other issues.
Sudhakar Shetty, Manager of BTS, told that after the induction of CCTVs in buses a year ago, pickpocketing and theft cases have been reduced to zero. We are availing services of Chalo, which has now provided electronic Ticket Machines and CCTVs. Out of 41 buses, the movement of about 25 is related to the app, and passengers can track them on their smartphones. In the coming days, passengers will be able to buy tickets on Chalo, like Mumbai BEST bus passengers do, and get the ticket print from the bus conductor. Monthly pass holders need not visit our counters, but they can renew it on the app itself in the next 2-3 months, he stated.
He also said that CCTV access is shared with traffic police, and officials are guiding them about stoppages and traffic diversions to ensure smooth traffic in the city. “Whenever we observe men sitting in ladies' seats, we immediately instruct the conductor to vacate them. Thus, we have been able to enhance security and safety for women passengers. If we find harassment or any untoward incidents with women, we intervene in real-time,” he explained.
