DTC buses to airport to be wi-fi enabled

The next time you have to board a flight, hitching a ride on Delhi Transport Corporation's Airport Express buses may be a good idea.

The next time you have to board a flight, hitching a ride on Delhi Transport Corporation's Airport Express buses may be a good idea.

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So, even as you are en route Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), you can e-mail or chat or log on to your favourite websites, in these red, low-floor buses.

According to Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) officials, all seats in the Airport Express buses will soon be

fitted with wi-fi enabled computers. Commuters will be offered this value-added facility free, with hopes of attracting net-savvy travellers and business fliers.

Launched on November 12, 2010, DTC believes wi-fi connectivity will make its Airport Express service more popular than Reliance Infrastructure's Metro Airport Expressline.

"Forget internet facilities, in the Airport Expressline you do not even have mobile connectivity. Also, its network is not as widespread as ours," said a DTC official, requesting anonymity. "Besides, service hours in the airport Metro are limited and so, do not cater to those fliers who travel during wee hours,"

Last month, DTC had tasked a Bangalore-based company to provide wi-fi connectivity to all 54 such buses. "Work on wi-fi has already begun from April 25," said a DTC official.

"All the buses will be wi-fi enabled and fitted with computers by next fortnight. This value-added service will definitely magnetise fliers to the fleet, that already is earning revenue to the tune of R4.5 lakh daily," said RS Minhas, senior manager (traffic), DTC.

Besides, Minhas said, DTC has also started offering online ticket booking facilities and home delivery of tickets, about a month ago.

"We have tied up with www.redbus.in to provide online ticket booking facilities. We are now planning to link it with our official website to make the service more popular and user-friendly," Minhas added.

DTC also began offering advance ticket booking facilities to its commuters, a fortnight ago.

"Now, you can book online or manual tickets even a month ago and get seats of your preference," said officials.