Buses were also fitted with Global Positioning System and CCTV cameras

Close to a year after it promised the same in its 70-point poll agenda, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Wednesday launched free Wi-Fi services aboard half a dozen Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses on a trial basis.

Not just free internet, the buses in question, according to Transport Minister Gopal Rai were also fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. Mr. Rai said that each bus chosen to be a part of the pilot project would have three CCTV cameras at the front and three at the rear while a seventh camera would be fixed next to the driver.

According to the Transport Minister, the trial phase would see the three facilities aboard the ISBT-Airport bus service (DL1PC 9946), the Mudrika Sewa (DL1PC 8705), the Outer Mudrika (DL10C 7451), route number 120 (DL10C 0348), route number 764 (DL1PC 3205) and route number 781 (DL1PC 3206).

“There will be special stickers pasted on the seats of these buses to inform commuters about how to use the Wi-Fi services available for them. A commuter can use the Wi-Fi only for 10 minutes with a speed of 1 mbps,” Mr. Rai said adding that Airtel, Reliance and Bhumi Entek had collaborated with the Delhi government for the project at hand.

At the launch, Mr. Rai also requested commuters to share their feedback regarding the Wi-Fi service on the said vehicles on social media through the hash-tag #aamadmiwifi in addition to an exclusive email address.

“After using the Wi-Fi in the buses, we request the commuters to send their feedback via e-mail at aamadmiwifi@gmail.com or to tweet with#aamadmiwifi. Once the trial run gets completed, we will invite the companies to collaborate in the project through the tender, and by March all DTC buses will have GPS system, cameras and Wi-Fi,” Mr. Rai said.

The Transport Minister also launched a helpline number – 8130344141 – for commuters facing problems in the utilisation of Wi-Fi services in addition to lodging any complaints related to the bus service or DTC drivers and conductors.