MTC seeks Govt. approval to procure GPS mobiles

By Akila Dinakar

CHENNAI, SEPT. 8. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has submitted a proposal to the Government for procurement of Global Positioning System (GPS) mobiles to be fitted in buses enabling the headquarters to monitor vehicles while on road.

While the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation which does not have wireless facilities has gone for off-line GPS, (which enables monitoring of buses that break down or are off the road), the MTC is thinking on the lines of installing an `on-line' GPS.

The MTC is struggling to make ends meet with too few buses for an expanding commuter-base and in the process, losing its share of the transport market. A rising number of trips are being made by share-autos, mini-vans and autorickshaws, that are cashing in on the MTC's inability to provide comfortable services. However, the management is trying to increase efficiency through better communication as a beginning.

``GPS will help us check if a bus has suffered a breakdown en route, if there is a traffic jam so that alternate vehicles can be arranged without delay'', an official said.

Communication through wireless connecting the control room, depots and checking squads is rather antiquated and officials complain that the presence of high-rise buildings has reduced the clarity of message transmission. Some of the wireless sets which are in a bad condition need frequent tinkering with, to do their job.

Recent accidents, traffic jams, breakdowns and flash strike and the speed of crisis management of the MTC only reveal the chinks in communication facilities. In the case of an accident at Collector Nagar bus stop when a commuter slipped off and was run over by the bus, it was only an hour after large crowds gathered that the Safety Department staff arrived.

During recent trouble at Kellys bus stand when there was a traffic hold up for two hours following three college youths beating up the crew and a breakdown of a bus nearby, officials were shuttling between two police stations, till they found out that the problematic bus had been shifted to the Kilpauk Police Station.

Officials claim that though the average retrieval time for a breakdown using any of the five wreckers that MTC has, is just 20 minutes, it is a common sight for commuters to witness a bus that has broken down parked for over an hour in the middle of the road, blocking traffic.

The reason officials attribute is that the crew, particularly if they are new, would telephone the depot from a nearby booth instead of calling the Control Room numbers 5385454 or 5385566.

In case of a fatal accident, the panicky driver and conductor would rather flee from the spot or rush to the nearby police station rather than call up MTC Control Room or the Accident Branch.

Officials point out that even the wreckers and recovery lorries were fitted with wireless sets. Highlighting the need to improve communication, officials said the driver and conductor were the first channel of information, then came the area officers, driving instructors on motor cycles, general managers, divisional managers, joint managing director and managing director were themselves on the rounds checking buses up to 1-30 p.m. daily.

Besides, checking squads with wireless equipment, the police and the public helped in communication.

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