Public transport : Smartphone application launched to help commuters plan bus trips

It will feature arrival and departure timing and fare and route information for LTC buses

LAHORE: The Lahore Transport Company on Tuesday launched an internet application to help commuters check arrival and departure timings, fares and route information for its bus service in the city.

Speaking at the launch ceremony of Bus Da Pata (Bus Information), LTC Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan said the application would help commuters plan their trips in advance and save travel time. He said the application was part of the provincial government’s plan to provide state of the art public transport system to the people.

Hassan said the application is available on internet and could be downloaded free-of-cost by anyone. He said the application would provide information on arrival and departure timings, fares and routes and could be useful in planning trips.

Hassan said public transport was not meant to be a profit-seeking venture. “It is a social service. I am glad that private transport operators are helping the government provide the service to the people,” he said.

Hassan said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership deserved credit for the improvement in public transport service in the city. He said the party leadership had followed the example of Turkey and prioritised spending on public transport.

“Turkish government allocates second highest amount of funds in its federal budget to public transport,” he said. He said economic growth targets could not be achieved without provision of quality public transport service.

The application is a joint venture of the LTC and the Pakistan Trakker Limited.

Ali Kirmani, a PTL official, said his team was now working on development of a similar application for conventional cell phones.

He said the LTC was making rapid advancements and it was a moment of pride for his team to work for the company.

LTC Chief Executive Officer Khawaja Haider Latif, Chief Technical Officer Badiur Rahman, CFO Mariam Khawar, Managing Director Pakoz Hanfi, SP City Asif Siddique, UET Architecture and City Planning Dean Ghulam Abbas, Enforcement DGM Chaudhry Shafiq and Communication DM Nasir Hussain.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2015.