BENGALURU: ‘Trip Planner’-a regular feature on Metros world over as well as the Delhi Metro is all set to be incorporated on the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation website shortly. The feature, which finds place in the ‘Namma Metro’ app launched in November 2016, has already had over 49,000 downloads.
“We are racing against time to install the Trip Planner before the full Phase-I launch set to happen next month. Passenger traffic will increase manifold and many will access the website for support,” said G S Cylesh, Manager, information Technology, BMRCL. The Bangalore-based concern, C-DAC, which created the app is partnering with Metro in this venture.
“Much of the testing has been completed and it is in the final stages now,” he added.
The Trip Planner is set to be positioned prominently on the homepage of the website. “We are focussing initially only in Metro trains and the feeder buses from Metro stations,” said Utkarsh Mankad, Senior Technical Officer, C-DAC. The original plan was to model it on the lines of Google Maps but later decided to restrict it only to guidance on Metro travel in the initial phase. he added.
Metro train timings and fares will find place on the planner. BMTC already has this feature on its website. Explaining, Mankad said that if one wants to travel from Baiyappanahalli to Rajajinagar presently, the planner will present the trains and timings from Baiyappanahalli.
“It would also list the feeder buses from Kempe Gowda to Sampige Road. And then the trains that can be taken on the Green Line to reach Rajaji Nagar. This is only specified bearing the present operational route.” The app and Trip Planner will now have to incorporate the additional stations and the connectivity between East-West and North-South Lines, he added.