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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009

Mumbai: Taking cue from cities like Singapore and New York, India’s first public bus service, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST), is likely to soon install Bluetooth-enabled services in its 4,027 buses.

“The Bluetooth-enabled services would be of much help to our nearly 50 lakh commuters. The proposal is likely to come within a month and once it is passed the services will be introduced,” said BEST chairman Dilip Patel.

Once installed, the system would provide route and other information on services to the commuters having cellphones.

The system will first be introduced for long route buses like the air-conditioned Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) and then on the smaller routes, Patel said.

With these services, commuters will come to know which routes the bus will cover, the next stop and in how much time will it reach the final destination, Patel explained.

Similar services are available in public buses in cities like Bangkok, London, New York, London and Hong Kong.

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Ankesh Said:


This isn't that good an idea. 1. Buses in NY etc don't have conductors. Indian buses do. Just let the conductor announce the next stop. And save the money! 2. Enabling bluetooth in the public always leads to an increase in bluetooth related scams. Where crackers hack into a cellphone via bluetooth and use that cellphone to make long distance calls and premium calls. Or where crackers spread viruses via bluetooth. We will see a lot of them in Mumbai too if public buses come with free bluetooth! In summary: bluetooth in buses is not required. No one is asking for it. No one wants it. Its not worth the expense. And its not worth the hassle of more scams. But it gives the government officials a feather in their caps to say Mumbai buses are as technologically advanced as NY buses. And so money will be spent and press releases will be sent to make a few officials a bit more popular. #FAIL.

Posted On 6/1/2009 3:47:22 PM
Re: Sanjiv Said:


Very negative talk, Ankesh. I was just reading Mid-day article http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/jun/020609-BEST-buses-passenger-information-system-LCD-screens-Mumbai-news.htm which explains the value of the specified system. They call it Passenger Information System, using LCD display and wireless technologies. This system would let users know the next stop information also they would have complete information on their mobile phones. I am a regular commuter of BEST buses and lot of my friends also travel by it. According to us, this is an extremely beneficial system which would be appreciated by commuters. Cribbing is an interesting task of an idle brain, hope you would improve.

Posted On 6/2/2009 10:04:07 AM
Re: Mahendra Said:


Dear Ankesh...I am really sorry for your poor thoughts..have you ever travel in buses in Mumbai....how much problem we face to know when our stop will come...with so much of rush..where you even can not see conducter...you said no one asking for it..you are voice of whole Mumbai..I am part of Mumbai and I am in need of this type of service which gives me information. Just think with broader mind and see the benefits..be positive sometime..when our government doing good job...

Posted On 6/2/2009 10:22:12 AM
Sanjiv Said:


Very negative talk, Ankesh. I was just reading Mid-day article http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/jun/020609-BEST-buses-passenger-information-system-LCD-screens-Mumbai-news.htm which explains the value of the specified system. They call it Passenger Information System, using LCD display and wireless technologies. This system would let users know the next stop information also they would have complete information on their mobile phones. I am a regular commuter of BEST buses and lot of my friends also travel by it. According to us, this is an extremely beneficial system which would be appreciated by commuters. Cribbing is an interesting task of an idle brain, hope you would improve.

Posted On 6/2/2009 10:07:16 AM
Re: Ajay Said:


I would sound too critic but I am not too sure if the services mentioned would really help the commuters because: 1. A BEST bus always has a desginated route. 2. Looking out of the window would certainly suggest the current location (unless the commuter is not a regular) 3. I don't think they can answer the time to reach the destination without knowing the traffic situation ahead. This will need some spohisticated GPS system for sure. I believe BEST should spend more on maintaining the buses (especially the Air Conditioning System of the so-called AC buses) rather than providing the travellers with such tech savvy but rather useless features. Nevertheless, I also feel that BEST is by far the best public transport system (road) in India.

Posted On 6/5/2009 12:02:31 AM