PMPML buses to have AI-enabled cams by July
Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited
(PMPML) has planned to install artificial intelligence (AI) enabled CCTV cameras in all its buses, senior officials told TOI.
With this step, PMPML becomes one among the first public transport bodies in the country to have AI cameras on its fleet.
"A study to check the feasibility about the project was on and the results have been positive. Now we will float tenders. Within a month, we expect all the buses to have four such cameras each. The buses will include PMPML-owned and the ones operated by the private contractors," Nitin Narvekar, the joint managing director with the transport body, told TOI.
The official said the purpose of installing these cameras was to ensure safety and to enhance the services.
"One of the cameras will be placed in the driver's cabin and will focus mainly on the driver, his activities and his way of driving. There are complaints off and on about the casual attitude of drivers when on the job. The camera will record the same and relay pictures and videos to us at the control room," Narvekar said.
Two other cameras will come up above the BRT doors of the buses on either side while the last camera will be at the back of the bus.
"The AI cameras will do a head count of passengers at every stage during the trip. By this, we can calculate the total earning from that trip and find out if the numbers are matching or not. There have been instances of ticketless passengers in the bus and because of which the conductor cannot keep a tab always," the official pointed out.
"Presently we have a rough idea on the number of females and males each bus carries. The ratio is 60:40 (males vs females).
However, with these cameras, the PMPML would know the exact ratio on the routes. It would help us plan better, especially where the female passengers are high," the official added further.
Commuters said basics needed to be catered to first. "I have no problem with the cameras, but when will the PMPML first control the breakdowns and ensure that buses ply on the right time? For commuters, these two issues are the most important," Siddharth Walkar, a Shivaji Road resident and frequent commuter said.
FOR ROBUST SAFETY WHILE TRAVEL
The PMPML plans to deploy artificial intelligence-enabled cameras on all the buses under it
Each bus will have 4 such cameras to ensure secure travel experience
The cameras will record the driver's behavior, any misbehave ticketless passengers and count the passengers
It will help the transport utility in matching daily earning, route optimization and planning
A study to check the feasibility about the project was on and the results have been positive. Now we will float tenders. Within a month, we expect all the buses to have four such cameras each. The buses will include PMPML-owned and the ones operated by the private contractors
Nitin Narvekar | joint managing director of PMPML
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