Soon, get free Wi-Fi in all KSRTC buses
- KSRTC, NWKRTC and NEKRTC buses will have free Wi-Fi soon
- This move has been initiated to attract more travellers in government-run buses
- Thus 18,000 buses run by the three state corporations will have free internet
- Tenders have been invited to provide free internet service in 450 bus stations
FollowThe Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), NWKRTC and NEKRTC will soon have Wi-Fi on all their buses. With this Karnataka will become the first state in India to provide free internet facility on the government-run buses.
The KSRTC, NWKRTC and NEKRTC buses too will have the free Wi-Fi. The new programme will provide free internet in 18,000 buses. The KSRTC has already invited tenders, and a company is said to have started to make arrangements to provide free Wi-Fi. If the work is completed at an expected pace, the service will be available from June, said an officer from the KSRTC.
There are 18,000 buses run by the three state corporations including the air-conditioned buses. Out of which KSRTC manages 8,320 buses, the Northwest corporation has 6,165 buses and Northeast corporation has 5,049 buses. Commuters in all these buses can soon use the free Wi-Fi and stay connected even on the bus.
Boost in income
This move is being made to attract people towards government buses. Currently, almost everyone uses a smartphone and use internet for various reasons. It is a common sight that travellers are either busy listening to music, watching movies, cartoons, using social media or playing games. Keeping all this in mind, the state road corporation has planned to install free Wi-Fi in its buses.
One traveller can use up to 20 MB of internet. This offer might lead to increase in the people opting to travel by the government buses and eventually also result in an increase in the income.
The officers said that currently KSRTC, NWKRTC, NEKRTC are not investing in this new project. Instead, the KPTI Technology which will provide the free internet will pay these corporations monthly to pay the internet bill.
Thus, this has even become a source of income without any investments. In an average, the three corporations will get a monthly income of Rs 20 lakh out of which Rs 10 lakh will be paid to the KSRTC, said an officer.
Wi-Fi in 450 bus stations
In addition to the free internet in buses, the corporations will also provide the service in 450 bus stations as well. Currently, the Wi-Fi service is available at 24 bus stations in Karnataka. A tender in this regard will be invited in the month-end, said sources from KSRTC.
