In the coming days, commuters will get to listen to announcements in the state-run air-conditioned buses alerting them about the stoppages approaching next.
The city dwellers have experienced it in Metro rail. Soon after the train leaves a station there will be an announcement making people aware of the next one.
Now, the state Transport department has also decided to introduce the system in around 700 air-conditioned buses in the first phase. Based on its success and popularity, the same will be implemented in the rest of the buses.
Suvendu Adhikari, the state Transport minister, said: "Chief Minister has named the project as Surodhara. Like the Metro, names of all the upcoming stoppages will be announced in the air-conditioned buses run by the state government."
He further said in between the announcements, there will also be campaigns on different state government projects including Kanyashree and others. The project will be inaugurated on July 24.
Another additional gift for the commuters will be Rabindra Sangeet and other melodies from the golden era which will be played using the same public addressing system fitted in the buses.
Sources said a system has been developed using the Frequency Modulation (FM) mechanism and it will be programmed in such a way that while on move, commuters can enjoy the songs and at the same time campaigns on government projects will also be played at regular intervals besides alerting people about the next stoppage.
According to senior officials of the state Transport department, it is usually found that people, who are not daily passengers, keep asking conductors or their co-passengers about their destination. There were many instances when they have been misguided by a certain section of co-passengers. Hence, introduction of the system of announcing names of upcoming stoppages will be of immense help. Those travelling long distances will also face no inconvenience and will not require anybody's help to get down at their desired destinations.