MUMBAI: With 3,000 new buses arriving in the fleet soon, MSRTC on Thursday announced it will have smart buses with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced technology.

"A majority of our new buses, including Lal Pari (red ST bus), will be equipped with AI-based cameras, GPS technology, LED TVs, Wi-Fi hotspot, driver breath analyser systems, and anti-theft technology-based bus lock systems, automatic passenger counting system and cam-based detection of driver violations," said MSRTC chairman Pratap Sarnaik. These modern technologies will be integrated to make the buses safer and more comfortable for passengers. In light of the incident at the Swargate bus station, passenger safety will be given utmost importance in the future. "To prevent any untoward incidents during travel, CCTV cameras will be installed in the buses, and the "third eye" of these cameras will monitor the driver's driving style. It will alert drivers if the sensors detect that drivers lose focus or are fatigued during driving," he said.

This will ensure road and passenger safety. Additionally, a system will be installed to ensure that buses parked at bus stations and in the vicinity remain completely locked. This is being done in the wake of a rape case in Pune in a parked ST bus a few months back. The new buses will also feature LED TVs that will deliver important updates and messages to passengers promptly, alongside advertisements. This will keep passengers updated on global events during their journey.

Said an official: "The CCTV cameras will be placed at entry/exit points, passenger seats and the driver's cabin. It will record 24x7 and its presence will act as a strong deterrent against criminal activities." The camera in the driver cabin will also catch drivers using mobile phones — something which was commonly seen in state buses, especially on long-distance inter-city and inter-district routes in the recent past, the official said. The CCTV systems in a smart bus will identify aggressive driving patterns, including sudden braking or speeding, promoting safer driving. It will give automated alerts to supervisors/senior officers regarding violations by drivers. There will also be a sensor at the entry/exit point which will keep a headcount of people entering or leaving the bus, an official added. A senior official said that a presentation was done in Mantralaya on the smart bus features which will ensure safe and punctual bus services through advanced technology.

Sarnaik, it is learnt, has also spoken with bus manufacturers in this connection. He also held a meeting with MSRTC managing director Madhav Kusekar and other department heads on Thursday. The new smart buses will also ensure data analytics — it will enable real-time analysis of routes, passenger patterns and vehicle performance to improve efficiency, safety and service reliability in the near future. It will also have smart ticketing which allows digital fare payments through cards or mobile apps.