Digital Boards Installed at Pulchok, Lalitpur Displaying Live Bus Locations

Initiated by Ward No. 3 of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, a digital board has been installed at Pulchok bus stop with an investment of around NPR 150,000 to display the live locations of buses. Currently, 1,400 buses are equipped with GPS devices, allowing passengers to track their buses in real-time through the Travel Nepal app. Installation of GPS devices on other buses is ongoing, with further efforts aimed at streamlining public transportation, according to Ward Chairperson Gopal Maharjan. “Passengers can see the live location of buses right at the bus stop,” he added. “It’s easy to know how many buses are approaching.”

Previously, commuters who had to change buses at the station found it hard to rely on such information. However, for the past three months, if you have traveled from the Pulchok bus stop in Lalitpur, you might have noticed a digital board that shows live bus locations. The live locations of almost all buses—including Sajha Yatayat, Nepal Yatayat, Riddhi Siddhi Yatayat, Jharna Yatayat, Mahanagar Yatayat, and Dakshinkali Yatayat—can be viewed on this smart board. This helps passengers easily know when and where the bus they intend to board has arrived.

Ward Chairperson Gopal Maharjan of Lalitpur Metropolitan City’s Ward No. 3 said the project was completed after about 20 to 21 days of effort and an investment of nearly NPR 150,000. Work is underway to equip additional buses with GPS units to make the system more organized, he stated. “I am also working to implement similar systems at other bus stops within the ward to make travel easier,” he added. “Passengers used to wait anxiously at these stops due to uncertainty about bus arrival times, so I sought a solution and adopted this approach.”

Promos Adhikari, COO of Travel Nepal, explained, “GPS devices will be installed in many more buses. This will allow passengers to easily know where their bus currently is and its route.” According to him, the digital board displays real-time GPS data, including bus numbers and the brand colors associated with each transport company. Even if passengers have not yet reached Pulchok, they can track buses via the Travel Nepal app. Adhikari said, “What appears on the board is mirrored in real-time on the app. You can check bus locations through the app before heading to the bus stop.”

Ward Chairperson Maharjan added, “We are currently training to incorporate other buses into this system. This will be a significant advantage for vehicle owners who lack information on their vehicles’ whereabouts.” “This is just the beginning. We have plans to undertake more such initiatives to further ease public transportation,” he said.

Photo/Video: Aryan Dhimal