Free app for Kolkata Public Transport Tracking- Govt./private bus status, timing

Pathadisha is a free utility app for commuters. Though started with Kolkata Metropolitan Area, it is gradually expanding to cover other parts of West Bengal as well.

Commuters can track buses/trams/vessels etc. near current location or a stop & get details. Real-time tracking of vehicles is also available with expected time of arrival (ETA) at stops.

This app uses crowdsourced info validated & analysed with other relevant system data and vehicles are ranked accordingly as per crowd.

Pathadisha makes commuters’ journey easier. Some of its important aspects are described below.

Live Tracking

Commuters, about to begin a trip from home/office/other places or anxiously waiting at a bus stop, need every second’s update on location and movement of buses on the way going toward her/his destination. This helps to effectively decide the most preferred option to choose.

Now, with Pathadisha, people can plan effectively to save time she/he had to spend earlier waiting at bus-stops before Pathadisha era.

Tracking vehicles was never easier as it is now.

Users may search buses/trams/ferry boats etc. surrounding a preferred stop or any location as selected in map or by routes, or even by category (like Govt./Private).

ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival)

In order to know ETA of a vehicle at stops, you need to select it on in-app map. Info panel appears at the bottom of the screen with four buttons (In-Route Vehicles, ETA, Share Journey & Crowd Input).

Second (ETA button) one will show ETA of the vehicle at different stops in a line-view. Tap on the Map icon to get the ETA at stops plotted on the route map.

In order to know the ETA of buses approaching a stop, select stop from menu. Vehicles will be shown in map. Press PIS (Passenger Information System) button. It will show list of vehicles approaching towards the stop with ETA.

Share Journey:

Sometimes commuters need to share with others live updates of her/his journey so that they can plan accordingly to join her/him at the destination. Pathadisha makes it easier with an option to share URL with message sharing apps so that the receiver may track live movement & whereabouts of the bus/tram/ferry.

Once you select a bus on the map, tap on the third one (Share icon) out of four options in the information panel at the bottom of the screen; and share tracking link of the selected vehicle with contacts of your choice.

Crowd Info

“How crowded the bus is” – commuters wish to know this information before journey.

Pathadisha indicates it as collected from passengers in buses/trams/ferry. Passengers can give this input based on immediate on-spot experience. System validates, analyses and ranks inputs to publish the most possible info on this as RED (Crowded), YELLOW (Less Crowded), GREEN (Empty Seats Available). Buses appearing in Pathadisha app are shown with such colour codes on top of it.

Journey Planner

A stranger, who is new to a city, or a person, who is not well aware of available routes and options, always finds it very difficult to travel in a city; and thus ends up with confusing and exhausting experiences.

Pathadisha is there to rescue you in such situations (within its coverage area).

Select "Journey Planner" option in the menu. Enter source/destination of your journey; it will list all possible options with routes, distance, approximate journey duration etc.

It can be made more effective with choice of “Direct Journey” or “Multi-hop Journey” options.

ETicket Booking

“Paperless-eTicket” is today’s smart choice towards the Greener World. Pathadisha brings it at your fingertips. Select “Ticket Booking” from menu and get access to eTicket booking system.

Alerts & Notifications

Pathadisha pulls all relevant alerts and notifications published by Transport Dept. regarding emergency route-diversions, new routes and special services in different occasions instantly when it is announced; and makes it available in the “Notifications” section keeping commuters well aware of all such updates.