Hyderabad: Over 1.15 lakh bus passengers who are bugged by the lack of information on the arrival of buses are in for better times. The RTC has started testing its GPRS-based android mobile app that gives live information on the movement of buses.

The app, Hyderabad Metro Buses, that is available on the Google app store, will track Metro Express, Metro Deluxe and AC buses. Once the bugs are ironed out, the app will be extended to all city buses.

After more than two years of deliberation, the live tracking system now covers 1,600 buses in Hyderabad, Tirupati and Vizag. The app is expected to bring in the next level of commuting with real time information for commuters. Covering more than 24,000 buses which comprises the largest fleet of buses in the world with GPRS tracking and putting them on the city wise apps will be a time consuming process.

The app available in English, Hindi and Telugu offers a bus arrival timing system (BATS) and has options of GPRS tracking the nearest bus stations, route map guide, search by route, by bus stop, bus number and to-from location options. The app has seen 200 downloads in Hyderabad before its launch. CMC which developed the app has developed anothr app ‘Find Bus APSRTC’ for Vijayawada, Vizag and Tirupati.

“The app has not been launched. It is under testing and is available on the Google app store. It covers only Metro Express, Metro Deluxe and AC buses. It will be started in all city buses in a phased manner, after testing,” said APSRTC Chief Engineer (IT) R.V. Jayant.