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India's Smart City Dream: What is the role of intelligent transport management system?
An intelligent transport management system is the one which is integrated with Information and Communication Technology that ensures easy commute options for the people in the city.
Imagine living in a city that understands you, your needs and always steps up to provide for them. A city that is effortless to live in, thanks to the seamless planning that went into every aspect of it. Whether it is transportation, infrastructure or overall development - a city which always stands true. This is the dream that has given the birth to India's Smart Cities Mission. The emergence and development of smart cities in India is active for quite some time now. The emergence of new and exciting technologies that continue to make cities smarter has only added fuel to this dream and one aspect of building a smart city that holds critical importance has to be having an intelligent transport management system.
What is intelligent transport management system?
Transportation plays a significant role in the transformation of a smart city. An intelligent transport management system is the one which is integrated with Information and Communication Technology that ensures easy commute options for the people in the city. With millions of people choosing to commute via different public transportation options, having a system that is smooth, hassle-free and quick is crucial. An intelligent transport management system is not only seamless and quick but also safe and reliable. This balance not only helps the commuters but also ensures overall efficiency in the city.
Does it work in the real world?
While we have heard and read a lot about the magic of intelligent services, we cannot help but stay skeptical about it. However, there are several real-life examples that prove that building an intelligent transport management system is not an intangible dream. The success story of Smart City Ahmedabad Development Limited (SCADL) in transforming their manually operated bus transit system into a smart transportation system has to serve as the best example. Smart City Ahmedabad Development Limited (SCADL) partnered with NEC to build a transportation system that reflects a smart city.
The biggest challenge that laidahead was tackling the inefficiency of manually operated bus services. From poor route plans and disorganized schedules to inconsistent and inconvenient cash collections and rough driving, the problems were countless. However, the solution was simple - an integrated process system that tackles every aspect of the issue. NEC helped the city to build an IoT driven transport management system that had everything from software-based bus service system backed by advanced ICT to a cashless open-loop card system.
A smart city is the one where everything from menial routines to tourist activities is effortless and having an intelligent transport management system truly aids this. The key is to have systematic processes and smart technologies in each part of the transportation. For example, the SCADL's smart transportation system took care of different aspects of the problem like - the lack of a strict schedule, the inconsistent and un-secure payment options, lack of tracking options for the vehicles, inefficient routing, etc.
Each of these aspects of the problem was assessed and an easy solution was set in place. The Automated Fare Collection Service (AFCS) facilitated the easy cashless payment option via prepaid RuPay card or smartphone for the passengers, while the Automatic Vehicle Location System (AVLS) allowed them to get the current location and other information of the bus, in real time. The Vehicle Planning Schedule and Dispatch System (VPSD) provided a revamped and optimized schedule for the buses and the Depot Management System (DMS) helped with the allocation and optimization of the crew and the overall bus operations. In addition to this, Passenger Information System (PIS) provided real-time bus information via mobile app, website, and in-station boards to enable passengers to plan their route and estimate waiting and arrival times.
This successful implementation of the intelligent transport management system stands testament to what the future can hold. This smart transportation system was successfully launched in 2017 and has played a monumental role in citing Ahmadabad as a smart city. This success story stands as an inspiration to India's smart city dream. It proves that with proper processes that optimally utilize the power of IoT and data analyzing technology, building 100 smart cities is not farfetched. But it makes another thing much clearer - having an intelligent transport management system is the heart of making this dream a reality.