Despite mounting losses, KSTRC seems to pay through its nose for what is a dysfunctional online ticket tracking mechanism. The corporation has been paying a telecom company a whopping Rs. 15 lakhs every month for a system that was supposed to enable real-time connectivity of the 6200 ticketing machines used in the buses.
The ticketing machines were purchased at Rs. 11,500 each and have been running network errors for over a year now. The system was established to enable tracking of buses to ensure good ticket delivery and avoid long distance buses servicing the same sectors simultaneously.
The Bluetooth-enabled ticketing machines were supposed to send sms to the control room enabling tracking. But this facility wasn’t functional even for a month and the company has been refusing to replace the batteries, pouches and keypads of the dysfunctional machines;something they are bound to do under the contract on a yearly basis.
The previous round of ticket machines were purchased at Rs. 4,200 per machine. The supplier also ensured free maintenance for 3 years. The machines gave an effective life of 5 years too. Unlike this the new round of machines and their purchase has been ridden with troubles. Fingers have been pointed towards senior officials in the corporation who have colluded with the telecom company leading to irregularities.
The new machines have modern facilities embedded on them like Bluetooth and also carry a sim card. The officials on the other side could not even explain satisfactorily as to why such ticket tracking was even required. The same bunch of officials are now overseeing the establishment of the expensive GPS systems in the KSRTC buses.
