In the middle of the desert, the lovely city of Jaipur blooms between two major rivers. This majestic city, once home to India’s royal family, is now the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Six quarters of sprawling metropolis surround a luxurious palace complex. Today, the city is home to over 3.5 million people, and is a major business center. Jaipur has many beautiful temples, monuments, and gardens; and is a popular tourist destination. Many tourists, as well as city residents, use the city’s public transportation buses to get around.

Unfortunately, Jaipur’s streets are filled not only with numerous cultural sights and sounds, but also with pickpockets and thieves. These rascals roam the city looking for gullible tourists to harass. Frequent problems with passengers being harassed or robbed has led to the installation of surveillance cameras and GPS on the city’s low floor buses.

Jaipur City Transport Service Limited (JCTSL) officials hope that the addition of high-definition cameras and GPS technology to the buses will help passengers feel safer about using this mode of public transportation. Officials are hopeful that the cameras will discourage the many pickpocketers and trouble-makers that bother passengers.

They also hope that the GPS technology will improve scheduling by allowing public transportation workers to accurately predict arrival and departure times for the 246 buses that will be equipped with the new technology.

Other cities in various countries around the world have used similar technology with great success. Several American school bus systems have installed GPS systems on their buses to provide more accountability for bus drivers and security for schoolchildren. Other public transportation systems that use GPS tracking include a UK railway, U.S.-based company Southwest Airlines, and others. These corporations, as well as others, have discovered the numerous benefits of GPS tracking systems. GPS technology provides specific, detailed information about arrival and departure times, which means passengers will not have to wait as long. GPS technology can also provide the exact location of a vehicle in case of mechanical trouble. In an emergency, GPS could save lives by allowing rescuers to find the victims quickly and get them the necessary help.

Some corporations, like airlines, use GPS to prevent disaster. For example, some airlines use GPS to ensure safe landings for their planes. Other corporations, such as taxi cab companies, use GPS to keep their drivers honest. GPS technology is useful for tracking the number of miles traveled. When companies know specific information like the number of miles traveled and the amount of time a vehicle spent idling, they can reduce fuel costs and increase efficiency. The detailed information provided by GPS satellite technology is being used to improve many public transportation systems.

Article Written by Michelle Cantine