KSRTC commuters to get real-time bus tracking through VTMS soon

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will soon launch the long-awaited Vehicle Tracking and Monitoring System (VTMS), which will enable passengers to track KSRTC buses in real-time through a newly developed mobile application.

According to officials, passengers will be able to watch live movement of more than 8,000 KSRTC buses, thus allowing them to plan their journey more efficiently and reduce uncertainty during long waits at bus stops. Within the scope of the project, a special Command Control Center will also be established for the management and monitoring of DBMS operations.

“KSRTC recently floated a tender to implement an advanced DBMS in its fleet, marking a major step towards modernizing bus operations, improving passenger safety and strengthening operational oversight,” a senior official said. Hindu.

According to the tender document, DBMS will be an integrated, AIS-140 compliant platform designed to track buses in real time, monitor compliance with routes and schedules, create operational alerts and respond to emergencies through panic buttons placed inside the buses. The system will combine vehicle-mounted hardware, back-end software applications and Central Control Station (CCS) to provide 24-hour monitoring.

emergency buttons

“KSRTC currently operates a fleet of 8,305 buses, of which 1,286 already have AIS-140 certified vehicle tracking devices and emergency buttons. Under the proposed project, DBMS will be deployed across the entire fleet, including existing and future vehicles, with provisions for integration of already installed devices,” the official said.

KSRTC plans to introduce 735 new buses along with existing buses and all of them will be included in the DBMS framework.

“Each bus will be equipped with a Vehicle Tracking Unit (VTU) connected to GNSS/IRNSS satellites and cellular networks. These units will transmit location data at fixed intervals every 10 seconds for urban services and every 60 seconds for other services and will also convey alerts regarding speed, detour, unauthorized stops, bus pile-ups and missed trips. The system will work even in low-connectivity areas by storing data offline and transmitting it once network connectivity is restored,” the official said. designed.”

An important safety feature of the project is the installation of at least nine panic buttons per bus, eight for passengers and one for the driver. According to officials, when these buttons are pressed, emergency alerts and live location data will be sent instantly to the CCS and Government backend, providing SMS fallback in the absence of mobile data.

Central Control Station

The Central Control Station, located at Mysuru Road Satellite Bus Station in Bengaluru, will serve as the nerve center of the DBMS. It will facilitate live vehicle monitoring, accident and fault management, dissemination of passenger information, call center operations and data analytics for decision making.

Passenger-friendly features

Meanwhile, the tender document states that the proposed DBMS will include passenger-friendly features that will allow citizens to access near real-time information about the location and movement of KSRTC buses.

To talk HinduTransport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said, “As part of the Passenger Information System (PIS), passengers will be able to view their bus locations on digital GIS maps through web-based and mobile platforms. The system will also provide updated location details on demand, along with estimated arrival and departure times at bus stops based on live vehicle movement data.”

According to Mr. Reddy, along with online access, DBMS data will be integrated with multiple passenger information channels, including LED and LCD display boards at bus stations, depots and bus shelters, as well as in-car and in-station voice announcement systems.

It was published – 20 January 2026 21:21 IST