Tamil Nadu buses to have GPS-based e-ticketing

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has invited bids from IT firms to implement a GPS-based e-ticketing system with hand-held devices in all state transport corporation buses.

"The objective of the project is to modernise existing passenger ticketing system with the help of information technology to provide maximum benefits to the travelling public and the transport corporations," a senior official in the transport department said.

He said the government would purchase 43,987 GPS-enabled electronic ticketing machines (ETMs) and set up support infrastructure at 285 depots and eight divisions. A central control room will monitor the system from Chennai.

The system will help conductors issue tickets using ETMs equipped with thermal printers.

An automatically generated management information system will help the STU managements keep a tab on sales and evolve policies accordingly, said the official.

Such data would be available for traffic, technical, administration and accounts managers in the STUs. Besides, the system will help the control room spot the exact location of the bus during its journey.

Eight transport undertakings across the state have a fleet of over 21,000 buses. They carry about two crore passengers daily. Average daily collection is 18.09 crore, while yearly collection is more than 6,500 crore. 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tamil-Nadu-buses-to-have-GPS-based-e-ticketing/articleshow/16390570.cms