Alternative Telecommunications Service provider Dhanus has entered into an MoU with the Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation to install passenger information systems in all private buses across Kerala, along with consortium partners, Sobha AppliedDSP, Chennai and Kiran Technologies, Cochin.

As per the MoU, Dhanus will provide FleeTrack services in over 20,000 private buses in Kerala. With this initiative, transport owners in Kerala will provide instant information to the passengers on location, arrival and departure timings and proposed arrival time of the destination of every individual bus via Internet and SMS.

"We have chosen Dhanus and Sobha AppliedDSP among other vendors on account of their technical and domain expertise on vehicle tracking systems. The passenger information systems that they would be installing our 20,000-plus buses would be a boon, both for the passengers and for the bus operators who would benefit from the real-time tracking system. In addition, the system would be extremely useful at times of unfortunate breakdowns and accidents. Dhanus would be offering a Web interface in the Malayalam language enabling every Malayalee to access and benefit from this system," said A. K. Abdulla, President, Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation.

Speaking at the occasion, A. D. Sudhindra, Executive Chairman, Dhanus Technologies, said, "We are extremely excited to announce this partnership with The Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation. Private bus operators own close to 85 percent of the bus services in the state. This initiative will ensure that both the regular passengers and the millions of tourists, who visit the state every year, have accurate bus schedule information on their fingertips. This will help them save enormous amount of time spent waiting for buses and make their journey carefree."

"FleeTrac ushers in a paradigm shift in the way fleet is managed and new and innovative ways of passenger service" added Sudhindra.

The initiative will also provide a new avenue for the advertisers to reach their target customers through static and dynamic advertising content; including audio-visual elements, which will be displayed in the buses.