Shivajinagar state transport bus depot incharge Dnyaneshwar Ranavare pondered on ways to effectively manage the crowd at the terminal and ensure its smooth functioning.
He came up with the idea to introduce QR codes at the bus depot, which will provide details about the buses, routes and schedules, among others, and lessen the hassles faced by commuters to get information to plan their travel.
On Monday, the Pune division of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) launched the QR code-based information system for the Shivajinagar bus depot and plans to roll out the feature to other depots in the city.
Ranavare said all relevant information will be available once a person scans the code on the smartphone. “Many times, commuters face trouble while booking tickets online. They are also unaware of the refund policy. Some passengers also spend a long time standing in the queue for details of the buses,” he said.
A total of 150 bus movements are recorded at the depot each day, and the total daily passenger traffic rests around 20,000. The Shivajinagar depot was shifted to a new location in Wakdewadi to facilitate the Metro work.
“With this QR code, everyone will receive information at their fingertips and reduce the long lines at the depot. The code will be placed in different areas across the depot for the convenience of passengers. They can save this code on their phone for future reference and even share it with others,” the official added.
“The QR code has been introduced at the Shivajinagar depot first, and we plan to roll out the system at other depots, too. We also plan to launch the QR code system at Swargate, which is the biggest depot in Pune,” Kailas Patil, the divisional controller of Pune MSRTC, told TOI.
Soon, the QR codes will be present in all depots in Pune for the benefit of passengers, he added.
The official said another code will be out later this week with information on bus fares of different routes from the depot.
“Apart from this, passengers will get information about the different aspects of safety, instructions and regulations and what to expect from the drivers. The code will also provide details of exit strategies and the responsibilities of drivers and passengers in case of emergencies,” he added.
Passengers said though the plan was good, the transport body should first focus on the basics.
“A large number of people travelling by state transport buses come from rural backgrounds and don’t know how to scan QR codes. Many don’t even have smartphones. MSRTC officials should ensure that information screens and audio systems at different depots are in working condition. They also need to improve the state of buses, timings and drivers,” Sudhir Kamat, a frequent commuter, said.
