Tickets for 12 bus routes run by the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC), and connecting the airport, will now be available online through the Yatri Sathi mobile app of the state government.
Commuters will be able to track the location of the buses and purchase tickets online, officials in the transport department said on Friday.
The 12 routes where tickets will be available online include AC-39, AC-50A, AC-37A, V-1, S-10, S-23A, AC-2, AC-43, AC-40, AC-23A and EB-12. The traditional system of buying tickets will continue on the routes.
“This is a pilot project. Commuters heading to and from the Calcutta airport will be able to book their seats online through the Yatri Sathi app. The remaining routes where the government runs buses will be gradually added to the system,” a senior transport department official said.
One can avail of the facility by downloading Yatri Sathi from Playstore or AppStore and looking for options to book a seat.
“As we expand this feature across all WBTC routes, daily commuting will become easier, safer and more efficient for millions of passengers,” the official said.
“The facility to book bus tickets online was introduced today. It will be available on the mobile phones of all those who have the Yatri Sathi app in a day or two,” said another official in the transport department.
According to official records, more than 27 lakh people across the state use the Yatri Sathi app.
“In a few days, another option will be available through Yatri Sathi where one can type a route and check the location and the expected time of arrival of buses. A person can check the location of a bus even without booking a ticket,” the official said.
The online booking of tickets and tracking of the location of a bus will boost the security of women commuters, transport department officials said.
“A woman can track the location of the bus she wants to board and arrive at the bus stop accordingly. She does not have to wait indefinitely on the road for a bus. Also, after boarding a bus, a woman can share her ride details with family members,” an official said.
