The management of the state-owned company responsible for public transport services, Ecofleet Solutions, has announced the launch of a pilot phase of a technological system designed to help passengers in the City of Kigali know where buses are at all times. This will allow commuters to wait while already knowing when their bus will arrive, and there will also be a mobile phone application to help them check this information from their homes.
The Government of Rwanda has recently intensified reforms in the public transport sector. Since last week, four roads in the City of Kigali have introduced lanes reserved exclusively for public transport buses during rush hours.
This initiative adds to other ongoing reforms in public transport, including the pilot phase of a technological system that will help people track the location of buses they intend to board.
The Chief Executive Officer of Ecofleet Solutions, Rukera Aubin, stated that this technology is also linked to another system already installed in 320 buses, which are equipped with cameras that help determine their real-time location.
During this pilot phase, the system has been implemented at two locations, Rwandex and Kacyiru, where electronic signs display how long it will take for a bus to arrive and its current position.
He said that public transport users should expect improvements, as the system will help people avoid spending a long time waiting for buses without knowing when they will arrive.
He added: “This is a project we have been working on for about six months. We started with existing systems that already show where buses are, whether they are respecting schedules, and we can now even track the number of drivers.”
He also explained that this technology will allow users to access the information through a mobile application, enabling them to know the estimated arrival time of a bus at their nearest stop.
“This is something we are developing so that this information is available not only at bus stops, but also for people at home through a mobile application,” he added.
This technology is already widely used in developed countries, especially in Europe, where passengers can check bus locations and arrival times from their phones, allowing them to leave home only when it is almost time to board, instead of waiting without knowing when the bus will arrive.
The Government of Rwanda continues to encourage people to use public transport, as ongoing reforms aimed at improving the system will keep being strengthened.
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