THE bus terminals in Qianhai will be turned into comprehensive, intelligent community service stops where riders can also choose bikes, take taxis and chartered buses or wait for buses in air-conditioned rooms.

The first such bus terminal will be completed in November this year. According to the contractor, Qianhai Smart Parking Operation and Management Co., a total of 39 bus terminals in the area will be upgraded to the new standards.

The traditional bus terminals are often criticized for their poor facilities, single-function service and waste of land resources.

The new terminals will use an advanced dispatching system and make full use of the facilities and technologies such as IoT and big data to offer multiple modal services that include logistics distribution, chartered buses, and charging for e-vehicles.

Besides smart bus terminals, 350 bus stops will become smart with electronic sign boards, torch screens to check information, and free Wi-Fi. Big data will be used to calculate passenger flows for the bus operators to adjust bus routes or bus departure intervals. (Han Ximin)