IT INITIATIVES

APSRTC has been a pioneer in implementation I.T. in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Implementation and effective use of IT has helped APSRTC in:-

1. Providing better Services to Passengers 
2. Reduction of passengers' waiting time at the time of ticketing & issue of bus passes.
3. Effective Managerial Controls.
4. Reduction in waiting time of conductors at the counters. 
5. Effective Maintenance Management of Vehicles. 
6. Faster communication of information.
7. Better inventory control. 
8. Standardization and simplification. 
9. Effective Transfer Pricing and better Inter-Unit transactions. 
10. Better Service to the Employees in Welfare schemes.

Major Areas of IT Applications

OPERATIONS

TIMs - Ticket Issuing Machines

OPRS - Online Passenger Reservation Syste

PAAS - Pass Automation and Accountal System.

FINANCE & PAYROLL:

VTPIS - Vehicle Tracking And Passenger Information System

Welfare:

SRBS (Staff Retirement Benefit Scheme) FoxBase + under Unix Multiuser environment.

SBT (Staff Benevolent Thrift Fund) SCO - FoxBase + under SCO Unix Multiuser environment.

CCS (Employees' Cooperative Credit & Thrift Society)

HMS (Hospital Management SYSTEMS)

Platforms:

Unix/Linux Operating System , Network systems, DOS/Windows , CAD Work Stations, Computerized Vehicle Testing Equipment

Software Used : COBOL , Pro *C, FOX BASE, FOX PRO, VISUAL BASIC 5/6, ORACLE 7.X, Oracle 8g/10g. Oracle Apps and EBS(R-12)

Online Passenger Reservation System :

Booking facility through web interface is provided at various Reservation Centers that facilitates ticket issue on 'Any-where to Any-where basis'. The Online Passenger Reservation System (OPRS) is implemented at 111 Bus Stations throughout the Corporation with about 3585 services and 2051 ATB Agents (Paper ticket).

The following features are provided through OPRS project:
• Ticket Booking Modes – Agents, Bus Stations Counters, e-Ticketing & B2C portals(Abhibus,Redbus.Paytm.Goibibo)
• 2050 + agents spread across AP, TS & TN & Orissa, Shirdi, Goa, Mumbai, Pune etc..
• Various Payment Options like Credit Card, Debit Card and Net Banking for e-Ticketing.
• Wait Listing Option for all types of buses – First of its kind in STUs across India.
• Paper Less Travel – Passengers can travel showing the ticket SMS instead of carrying Hardcopy. This is an APSRTC initiative to encourage the "GO GREEN" concept.
• Connecting to the customers through social media like Facebook/Twitter. Have a dedicated team to maintain and reply to customer queries.
• Live Track and Mobile app.
• 24X7 Central Complaint cell with phone no 0866-2570005 will answer all the passenger related quarries

Benefits to Passengers from OPRS:
• Information available on fingertips.
• Ability to book tickets sitting at home using Credit/Debit Cards/Wallet & Net Banking.
• Option to Purchase Waitlisted Tickets.
• Can book tickets anywhere to anywhere
• Ability to pay in cash, credit card, wallet.
• Avail Value Added Services like Accommodation and Dinner On Board ,TTD Darshan etc.,

Central Complaint Cell :

• Unique one of its kind service in all STUs with a Toll Free number i.e., 0866 2570005.
• Established to handle the customer grievances through a centralized system.
• Currently Handling 3000+ calls/ 300 live chats, 200 emails per day.
• Addressing the Complaints pertaining to the services, behavior of the crew, bus stations and punctuality of the services.
• Plays a key role in arranging the immediate relief to the passengers in case of breakdown of vehicles.
• Addressing passenger grievances related to the credit and debit card transactions.
• Enquiries with related to the availability of the services and seats for online ticketing.
• Enquiries regarding the usage of the OPRS.
• Enquiry about the Boarding Points.
• Feedback related to the APSRTC services and other facilities.
• Gives customers the freedom to call and get necessary information 24x7.

VEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEM:

• GPS based vehicle Tracking Equipment is installed in the buses.
• The geographical positional coordinates (Latitude and Longitude) are captured by the Vehicle Tracking equipment and transmitted to the Central Data Center at predetermined intervals, through GPRS, for which one SIM card will be installed in each Vehicle Tracking Unit. Based on the route on which the bus travels and its current position, the estimated time of arrival of the bus at all the subsequent stages will be calculated by the application which will be installed in the Data Center. The captured information can be accessed by the public through Mobile App and Web portal (www.apsrtclivetrack.com). The Mobile app can be downloaded from the Google Play store.
• The project is covered in all the OPRS services.

Advantages of CIS :

• Centralised Integrated Solutions Project is an in-house project designed to handle the internal functioning of the entire corporation duly integrating all the departments.
• The project is distributed in to different modules for performing various activities across the organization.
• CIS Project facilitates the end-users to access the required Data through the application and reports who are working in the Operating and Non-Operating units of the corporation.
• CIS Project provides a user friendly interface to the end-users.

Achievements in Computerization :

• All 129 Depots(100%) have been computerized.
• All Bus Stations computerized for passenger reservations.
• 100% computerization of pay rolls and P. F. accounting for all the employees.
• Implemented Centralised Integrated Solutions Project with latest ERP technologies to handle the internal functioning of the entire corporation duly integrating all the departments.
• Design of bus body designs using CAD workstations.
• Design of Civil engineering infrastructure using CAD and STAAD software packages.
• Computerized MIS for Depots / Divisions/ Regions/ Corporate office .
• Computerized vehicle-testing machine in use to check effectiveness of braking, steering, lighting and exhaust systems.
• All Regional Offices and Depots are connected to RTCWAN and provided with broad band connections.
• Computer controlled platform announcement system and electronic display boards at Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station, Hyderabad.
• Computerized On-line Bus Pass System implemented across the state wef 02.06.2015.
• Ticket Issuing Machines (TIMs) 15847 introduced, which includes 20% spares.
• Operating 24X7X365 days tollfree Central Call Centre to address the passenger complaints, grievances etc,.
• Computerised 20 dispensaries and Corporate Hospital at Vidyadharapuram which includes OP module, Pharmacy, Clinical module, Lab, Blood bank, Operation theatre, Radiology and Maternity ward.

Wide Area Networks for Online Passengers Information System

E-Procurement:

This project is to be utilized as per the guidelines received from the Govt. of A.P. This project enables APSRTC to procure its requirements like automobile spares, general items through the e-procurement portal that is set up by the GoAP. The personnel involving in e-Procurement activity are notified and they have to obtain the digital signatures/digital certificates for e-Procurement activity.

E-Auction:

APSRTC has also proposed for pilot implementation of e-auction through M/s. MSTC a Governmental agency, at two of its Zonal stores’ viz. Vizianagaram. An agreement has been entered into. Interface Software is being developed for taking processed information after tendering from the firm’s portal.

Proposed Network Solution and Hardware

APSRTC LIVE TRACK

PROJECTS IN PIPELINE:
UTS – Unified Ticketing Solutions Project:
APSRTC is operating 42 Lakh Kms daily with 12,000 buses and transporting 62 Lakh passengers every day. The passenger ticket revenue realised is about Rs 13 Crs per day. Currently 85% of ticket revenue is realised through Cash transactions.

It has become highly challenging for the Corporation to arrive at a single source of data of all relevant activities of operation of buses and to generate comprehensive MIS reports that facilitate decision making.

The advancements in Mobile Technology and the proliferation of APP based solutions in service delivery etc., provides scope to explore for developing a comprehensive unified solution to cover all the requirements of APSRTC business activities.

The stand alone systems of Passenger Ticketing, Cashless Payments, Central Command Station, Bus passes, Courier and Parcel booking, Vehicle Tracking and Passenger Information system etc., can be integrated for better MIS reports and timely actions by the field officers.

Hence, APSRTC has taken an initiative to develop an innovative application which facilitates multiple activities under a single platform developed under the UTS Project. Currently, the project is under the development and planned to go live for the Pilot implementation from the first week of MAY’22.