BENGALURU: The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will soon renew wi-fi facility in 200 AC buses in the city.
BMTC officials told Express they would soon finalise on a tender for free wi-fi facility, surveillance cameras and onboard smartphone-based entertainment system in 200 Vajra and Vayu Vajra buses. BMTC managing director Ekroop Caur said they had a pre-bid meeting with a few private firms to renew the facility in 200 air-conditioned buses. “We will soon finalise the tender,” she said.
Sources say Vajra and Vayu Vajra buses that ply on routes such as the airport and IT corridors such as ITPB and Electronics City would be selected for the project.
In 2010, BMTC introduced the wi-fi facility on a pilot basis in the Vayu Vajra bus service, which takes passengers to the airport and back. The facility was expanded to 60 buses in 2014, but the project was later scrapped after the private firm backed out from the contract.
BMTC officials said they have learned from their previous mistake and will ensure that the facility can continue in 200 buses and later it would be extended to more buses. “Commuters don’t need to pay any additional amount to access wi-fi in these buses. They can also directly plug in their own personal electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets or laptops to access internet without streaming,” an official said.
She said selected firms can advertise on LCD/LED panels with video and audio in the buses. “They have to ensure a minimum bandwidth of 7.2 Mbps for the commuters for internet browsing, e-mail and social networking sites. However, download of data would be chargeable, based on the rate fixed by the firm,” she added.
According to the tender, cost of internet data usage, equipment and installations would be borne by the selected firm.
Many commuters welcomed the proposal. “It’s good to hear that they are renewing Wi-Fi facility on buses going to the airport and on the IT corridors. The transport utility should also ensure that wi-fi facility not be stopped midway and also maintain a good speed,” said K Ramdas, a resident of Hebbal. “The road leading to the airport is mostly congested and a good speed wi-fi facility will help several commuters,” he said.