Blog: Thank You Shri Gahlotji ,

Thursday, 15 July 2021

Thank You Shri Gahlotji ,

Context :

Delhi: Real-time data on DTC buses now on Google Maps / Indian Express / 15 July 2021

Extract :

Ø Real-time bus schedules in the capital will now be available on Google Maps as well, with the Delhi government working with Google to integrate the public transit system onto the Maps platform.

Ø “Once this project gets kicked off, static and dynamic location data of Delhi buses will be available for passengers in real-time. A bus user will get information of ,

# All routes and bus stops,

# All bus arrival and departure times in real-time, and even by bus

numbers.

# Updates on any delays which will reduce waiting time and hence

reduce crowding at bus stops, along with increased accountability of

public buses

Ø Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi Vice-Chairperson Jasmine Shah, officials from the transport department and Google were present at the virtual launch.

Ø “With this move, Delhi will join the league of global cities where real-time data of all buses is being incorporated onto Google Maps,” the statement said.

Ø Once a person opens Google Maps and enters their destination and taps the ‘Go’ icon, they have to tap the ‘transit’ icon (the little tram) to view times, bus numbers, routes and real-time arrival information highlighted in green or red.

“ Tapping a recommended route lets you view more information on the route’s stops. Tap the bus stop to see a listing of all arriving buses, where relevant real-time information is depicted by the green or red beacon,” the statement said.

Ø In 2018, the government had developed and published Open Transit Data with the technical support of Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT-D) to provide real-time data relating to bus stops, maps etc.

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Google Maps Rolls Out Real-Time Bus Information Service for Delhi Users: How to Use

Dear Shri Gahlotji,

( kgahlot@gmail.com )

For a while, it looked as though Mumbai’s BEST would set a benchmark for City Bus Transit Systems of all the cities in India, as suggested in my following 5 YEAR old e-mail :

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

In fact, only a few weeks ago, I thought fit to send following e-mail :

Congratulations, Shri Lokesh Chandraji ………………..[ 21 June 2021 ]

One suggestion :

At one place, Google Map Mobile App reads :

“ What’s it like on board ? > [ + Crowdedness / + Accessibility ]

Even assuming that Google reaches this " conclusion " by tracking the mobile phones ( GPS ? ) lying in the pockets / purses of the riders , but providing such " vague " info to the persons waiting at the bus stops, is not helping much

As suggested in my 2016 E-Mail, how about App showing

" No of seats available in this bus ( ) "

This assumes " no standees allowed " on any bus and only that many passengers are allowed to board ( at any bus stop ) as there are vacant seats

And also displaying this info on an indicator :

# on the bus itself – and

# at the bus stop indicator ?

In my 2016 e-mail, I had also suggested :

# A tablet type digital device fitted behind each seat , where passenger to touch

his destination on route map displayed

# Passenger will also touch his smart phone to the device which will transfer the

fare amount to the bus operator, through a mobile wallet .

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

# This will tell the driver , at which stops , which passengers are getting off and

how many seats are falling vacant

# 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

# 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

Dear Shri Gahlotji,

I am sure, if requested , Google CEO , Sundar Pichai ( sundar@google.com ) will be too happy to modify the mobile app as suggested by me

And, he will say :

" There is no need to fix a Tablet behind each seat. Just one smart tablet fixed near the entrance of each bus should suffice

Each boarding passenger will enter ( simply by touching ) his destination on his own Mobile App and then hold the mobile against that tablet at the entrance

We will even be able to transmit this " Destination / Dis-embarkation " data to each and every bus stop on the route AND display that number on the indicator at each bus-stop

And we will offer this ITMS ( Intelligent Transport Management System ) to all Indian cities

If requested by Central Govt Transport Minister, Shri Nitin Gadkariji, we would be happy to take this to the next logical step by implementing :