GUWAHATI, June 14 - Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary today launched the Assam State Transport Corporation�s �Chalo� app for commuters in Guwahati. The app will enable commuters to know the arrival time of their bus so that they can plan their travel accordingly.
Commuters can also track the live GPS position of their bus on a map, plan their trip using a multi-modal trip planner, find the cheapest and fastest trip options, including all the bus route options to their destination, buy a mobile bus pass directly through the app and travel safely with features such as Emergency SOS.
This project also includes the introduction of electronic ticketing in ASTC buses with the latest generation of cutting-edge Electronic Ticket Issuing Machines (ETIMs), which can accept all modes of payment, including cards, mobile payments, QR code payments and other forms of digital payments. Passengers will be able to buy a mobile pass or a ticket through the Chalo app, and then simply show their pass or ticket on their mobile phone to the conductor to travel, making the entire experience hassle-free and convenient.
All these solutions will be integrated under a common technology platform known as the Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS).
Patowary also unveiled a one-of-a-kind transport map for the ASTC bus network in Guwahati, which will allow commuters to find all possible bus routes from one stop to any other stop on the entire network at a single glance.
Such maps, which are commonly found in the world�s best metro systems, will be installed at several key bus stops across Guwahati.
Bus stop poles will also be installed across the city in areas where bus stops have not been previously marked. The poles will not only point commuters to the location of the stop, but will also indicate the buses that will stop there.
�This is an ambitious project for us. The first phase will cover 250 city buses, and in a few months� time, Assam will be the first state in the country to have a statewide smart transport solution and common mobility card for its commuters. We are investing in a technology that will help make public transport more convenient for commuters. Building smart cities starts by encouraging more people to go for public transport. With this project, we want to do exactly that and make a positive impact on the quality of life in the State,� Anand Prakash Tiwari, MD, ASTC, said.
To increase convenience to passengers and to make bus travel more cost-effective, ASTC has also introduced monthly passes that can be purchased on the Chalo app. These passes are available at Rs 450 per month for ordinary buses and Rs 900 per month for AC buses. The pass allows daily commuters to save money, entitles them to unlimited travel and offers the convenience of not having to buy a ticket for each trip.
The Chalo app has been developed by the Zophop Technologies Pvt Ltd, a technology-driven transport solutions company.
