Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Thursday 30 July 2020

Common Mobility Phone App ?




MMRDA has invited bids from developers for a Common Mobility Phone App


Read :



Extract :

Ø  The application will work across Metros, Monorail, BEST buses, app-based Cabs and the Suburban Railways

Ø  The app can be used to:
#   Plan a journey
#   Making payment on the App
#   Create a QR code that can be used across           modes of transport

Ø  MMRDA approved the proposal which is likely to be rolled out from December 2020
=========================================================
Congratulations , Shri R A Rajeev

{ MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner  /  mmrda.maharashtra.gov.in }

This will enable citizen, a hassle-free and quick travel, without wasting time waiting in long queues for tickets / passes etc

I suppose , the IT department of MMRDA is already in the process of framing SPECIFICATIONS ( both for the App and for the hardware that would need to be installed on Buses – Taxis – Metros – Railways – Monorails etc )


While framing these SPECS , I urge you to pass-on to your IT department , suggestions contained in my following earlier blog  / email :

PUBLIC TRANSPORT AS A SOLUTION ?  ………………………………………………….[ 15 Feb 2016 ]


Extract :

Ø  Bus Arrival Time Indicators ( linked with GPS in all buses ) at all bus stops

Ø  A tablet type digital device fitted behind each seat , where passenger to touch his destination on route map displayed . 

Ø  Passenger will also touch his smart phone to the device which will transfer the fare amount to the bus operator, through a mobile wallet


Ø  No need for a conductor - as practiced in many foreign countries ! 

Ø  This will tell the driver, at which stops, which passengers are getting off and seat/s are falling vacant


Ø  If bus is already FULL and no passenger is getting off at the next bus stop , then driver will not halt the bus , since he cannot accommodate any standee passenger

   
Ø  If a passenger is supposed to get off at , say XYZ stop , digital device will flash a signal / ring a bell , a few minutes before reaching the stop

   
Ø  The Bus Arrival Time Indicator, at the stop will also display the " No of Vacant Seats " in this bus


Ø  This ( No of Vacant Seats ) sign will also appear prominently on the bus itself as it pulls into the halt


Ø  It is equally easy to introduce such an integrated traffic management system in Inter-City buses as well

Ø  Entire intra-city bus traffic will be monitored and controlled from the Central Traffic Control Station of the city traffic department , much in the same way ATC control air traffic or railways control train traffic
  

Ø  It is just a question of extending an existing ( but slightly modified ) technology to city traffic

Ø  As far as density of traffic on various roads is concerned, mobile apps are already available

Ø  Based on the situation , Central Traffic Control will order additional buses to be injected on any particular route , at any given time

   
Ø  In some foreign countries , even elevator systems in large office buildings are designed to gauge

          *  the number of persons waiting for elevator at each floor ( and how many want to
             go UP and how many want to go DOWN ),

         *  the number of persons riding at any time , within each elevator ( and their travel
             intentions ) and adjust their stopping / halting pattern accordingly, automatically
             without human intervention


     =======================================================

RELATED READINGS :

Ø  BEST : Ready to lead                                                         [ 14 March 2018 ]



Extract :

On  12th Sept 2017 , Shri S R Jadhav ( Traffic Manager – Planning & Control ) sent to me following email :

Sent: 12 September 2017 14:58
To:     Hemen Parekh

Subject: 

re: fw: A COMPREHENSIVE BEST SOLUTION


Sir,

This refers to your letter dated 21.08.2017 addressed to the General Manager, BEST Undertaking.


At the outset, we thank you for providing suggestions in connection with BEST bus operation.


The BEST Undertaking is in the process of developing App for BEST buses. Besides, we are also planning to install GPS on buses to get Real Time Information for updated Passengers Information System.


In connection with this, we have also noted your suggestion for Bus Route Indicator at bus stops.
We would also like to inform you that MMRDA is carrying out study for 'Dedicated Bus Lane' on major corridor of Mumbai.


Yours faithfully,

S.R. Jadhav  /  Traffic Manager  ( Planning & Control )

========================================================

Ø  Making Yourself Obsolete ?   ………………………………………………………[ 14  Feb  2016  ]


Extract :

Whereas it may take 10/20 years before Car Manufacturers themselves get obsolete ( by manufacturers of Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality / Holographic / Hepatic devices and web-services - making travelling unnecessary ) , according to me , taxi-rickshaw Meter Manufacturers are in the danger of getting obsolete , within the next TWO YEARS  !


Expect some Indian Start-Up to come up with a digital taxi meter ( to be called , DigiMet  ? ), resembling a 8" tablet , with a screen on both the sides , visible to both , the driver and the passenger


DigiMet will be integrated with :

*  GPS based Google Map

*  Mobile App ( called, FareCalc ? ) downloaded from      the web site of the Authority fixing "Tariff "(RTO? )
    

Passengers will also need to download / install, FareCalc app on their smart phones

As requested by the passenger, taxi driver will enter the destination location, in DigiMet

Immediately , DigiMet will display the following routes to the desired destination :

*  Shortest route ( distance-wise )

*  Fastest route ( time wise ) , taking into account the traffic conditions on different routes

DigiMet will also display , the amount of " fares " payable for each route ( also displaying tariff : Rs per Km )

Now it is the passenger's turn to select / choose the route that he wants the driver to take

The taxi / rickshaw will start only thereafter !

At the end of the journey, passenger will have the options to pay the fare ,

*  In cash

*  By entering his Credit Card details into the DigiMet , or

*  Through his Mobile Wallet ( using NFC  ? )

The Mobile App will also need to have a provision for any " Waiting Time " charges to be added

When the destination is reached , DigiMet will display :

*  Distance traveled

*  Time taken

*  Waiting Time ( if any )

*  RTO approved tariff ( Rs per Km )

*  Fare amount payable

Any revision in the tariff will get updated automatically in DigiMet as also on the smart phone of passenger

For taxis / rickshaws running on Hybrid fuel ( producing less Co2 ) or Electric Vehicles ( zero emission ) , both , the driver and the passenger will get " Carbon Credits " , which will also get displayed on the DigiMet as also on the FareCalc Mobile App on the smart phone of the passenger ( @ 20 % of the fare payable ? )

These amounts will get transferred to their respective Jan Dhan Bank Accounts ( thru DTB ) , every quarter

I suppose some variation of DigiMet / FareCalc can be introduced in all State Transport buses and intra-city Municipal buses

====================================================================================

Having sent the above-mentioned E Mail to transport authorities , I was happy to read the following news, where Mumbai RTO decided to implement my suggestion :

{ Source : Fool-proof GPS Meters ?  / 19 Feb 2018 }


Extract :

City RTOs have proposed installation of ‘fool-proof ’ GPS-enabled meters in over one lakh autorickshaws.


The RTOs have mooted a proposal to replace electronic meters with gadgets which will 
automatically calculate fares based on real-time GPS-enabled distance and waiting time.


“GPS meters are difficult to tamper as they are based on Google Maps and will calculate the accurate distance travelled and time taken at signals to compute the fare,” a senior transport official said, adding that they could be introduced soon.


The meters had been proposed in Delhi and Chennai. Each meter costs around Rs 15,000 and manufacturers in the state can supply them, a transport commissioner office official stated.


The meter will have a facility to print receipts, which will have the fare along with distance travelled and waiting time, the official said.


“You can also track the GPS autos from a central control room and introduce a panic switch on the meters. This could be a safety feature for commuters, especially women travelling alone,” the official said.

=======================================================


Dear Sirs ,









I wish to thank you for reading my mails and implementing those suggestions that you found beneficial to the travelers


With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  30 July 2020

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