An effort to ensure efficiency
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is bringing more of its vehicles under vehicle tracking system (VTS) to ensure transparency and efficiency in fleet management.
VTS is a software system used to monitor location of vehicles. It uses global positioning system (GPS) for tracking, giving authorities real-time information.
Driven by benefits the state-run transport agency is getting after introducing the system for 500 buses, it will now add 700 more buses and trucks under VTS, officials said.
BRTC has already floated a tender for procuring VTS equipment for 500 trucks and 200 buses, and software services for 1,200 buses and trucks, including for buses in which VTS devices are already installed.
"It would bring transparency and accountability of BRTC services. It would decrease wastage of assets and increase passenger services," BRTC Chairperson Tazul Islam told The Daily Star yesterday.
He said the agency will gradually bring all its vehicles under VTS.
BRTC owns 1,650 buses, of which 1,256 are in service. Of those that are out of service, 178 have to be written off, and 204 need major repairs, according to its 2020-2021 annual report.
The agency provided services to 4.31 crore passengers in the last fiscal year.
It also owns 590 trucks, of which 498 are in operation, reads the report. These trucks carried 6.55 lakh tonnes of goods during the same period.
BRTC often draws criticism for the early demise of its vehicles, due to lack of skilled mechanics and spare parts, inadequate maintenance, and authorities' poor decisions, said experts and users.
Besides, corruption by a section of BRTC officials is to blame for poor services, which ultimately had turned it into a losing concern, they said.
However, Tazul Islam said the situation has changed a lot, as the agency is now making profit. Implementation of different initiatives, including introduction of VTS and fleet management automation system, have helped change the scenario.
VEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEM
A BRTC official said VTS was already built in 500 buses procured from India in 2019, and later, they installed necessary software to make the system operational in early 2020.
Using the system, authorities can know real-time location of vehicles, the distance they travel and the number of trips among other information, he said.
"As we can know the distance travelled, we can determine the amount of fuel vehicles require. So, no one will be able to use or pretend to use more fuel than what is needed. So, the system is saving fuel costs," he told this correspondent, wishing anonymity.
Tazul Islam said they regularly check how many vehicles are in operation and can immediately know whether they are late to start operation. Before, it would take over a month to get this information, after every depot would place its monthly report.
Besides, BRTC is implementing a fleet management automation system at three of its 22 depots, which will allow authorities to get other types of information, including income and expenditure.
The system is also being implemented in five other depots on pilot basis, a BRTC official said.
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