Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), one of the largest public transport corporations in the world, is rebooting its entire computer network for better integration and optimal operational efficiency.
The step has become imperative for it as several of its systems have become obsolete and much of the hardware is not compatible with the latest software in vogue today.
APSRTC managing director AK Khan has said at a recent meeting that it is time different departments of the organisation are integrated seamlessly for effective functioning of the organisation as a whole.
Referring to the recent cyber fraud in one of the depots, Khan said it was high time the APSRTC had the advanced systems in place to prevent such frauds and said the corporation was rebooting its network to have much more efficient system in place, which is smart enough to alert the authorised personnel if something goes out of order.
PIONEER: APSRTC was one of the foremost organisations in the country to integrate information technology in its day-to-day operations.
Way back in 1984, when even computers and PCs were little known, APSRTC used computers for its employee’s provident fund accounts so that its employees, on retirement, need not wait for six months or more to get their money.
Later, the system was used for pay-rolls and other muster rolls. In 1987 itself, district-level systems were in operation with computerised financial accounts and online inventory management system. Computerised ticket reservation was introduced during 1991-92 and the bus pass issuance later. Currently, online ticketing (e-Ticket) has become the increasing choice of RTC passengers.
CIS: ‘’Though APSRTC was among the first to use computers for its various operations, it lacks a centralised system. As different departments got computerised at different times, using different OS platforms and software tools, they lacked integration and it resulted in redundancy. Further, some of the software tools and much of the hardware became obsolete,’’ explained RV Jayanth, chief engineer (IT).
After taking stock of the situation, the corporation enlisted KPMG, one of the top five consultancy firms in the world, which recommended Oracle applications as ERP solution to the proposed Centralised Integrated System (CIS) which will have Linux as its OS platform.
Open tenders were called and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has got the deal. It started work in April last year and took nearly nine months to study the complexity of the system in place as APSRTC has about 1.30 lakh employees and financial transactions to the tune of several hundreds of crores of rupees.
‘’The TCS is putting the centralised system in place. Approximately, 1,000 new systems will be procured for key departments and there will be two servers which will be placed at the TCS headquarters. Several safeguards will be in place with accessibility to certain programmes limited to authorised personnel. As per the deal, TCS will monitor and maintain the system for five years after it becomes operational,’’ APSRTC executive director M Ravinder said.
According to him, the entire cost of the project is Rs 49.60 crore. All the key departments will be integrated and every process will be computerised leaving no scope for redundancy. After CIS becomes operational, APSRTC will be 80 percent computerised.
Now, it is 60 percent computerised.
HURDLE: However, the major stumbling block RTC’s IT department has to overcome is ‘user training’. ‘’Training of personnel in utilising the latest system for optimal operational efficiency of the system will be the utmost important factor.
“It will be a tough task but we are confident that we can train the personnel in a phased manner, repeatedly, if necessary. Initially, 5,000 employees from different departments will be trained in July and August,’’ Jayanth said.