APSRTC integrates with Google Maps to facilitate bus ticket-booking

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is rolling out a feature that allows users to book bus tickets via Google Maps.

The system is being enabled by APSRTC sharing its route/schedule/reservation-bus data with Google. Under this facility, when you search a route in Google Maps, it will show APSRTC reservation-bus options on that route and may provide a link to book the ticket.

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Currently the Corporation authorities have piloted this for the Vijayawada-Hyderabad route and will expand to more routes.

The APSRTC officials explain that if you open Google Maps on your phone and enter your origin and destination (relevant region) and check ‘Bus’ among the travel mode options, you will see the available APSRTC reservation buses listed with departure time and a ‘Book ticket” link, which redirects to the APSRTC reservation platform or partner site/app to complete the booking,” adding that after booking, the person receives ticket confirmation as usual via APSRTC website/portal which he/she has to present while boarding.

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Speaking about the technical and operational aspects of how APSRTC could integrate with Google Maps for real-time ticket booking, they explained the process of geo-fencing and how it enables a map-based ticket booking system, which can detect when a user is near a bus stop or depot, when a bus enters or leaves a designated zone or when a user’s phone is within a region eligible for specific services (like booking or tracking).

To facilitate bus-ticket booking directly from Google Maps, the APSRTC is sharing route data, stop coordinates and schedule information with Google’s transit partner, creating a geo-fence radius, digitally drawn around its bus stops, boarding points or terminal in the database.

The APSRTC’s online reservation system is connected to the Maps interface. When a user searches a route in Google Maps, the system identifies nearby boarding points using the geo-fence data.