The Vice Ministry of Transport (VMT) put into operation this week the Integral Control and Monitoring System (SICM), a platform that uses GPS and electronic ticketing to monitor in real time the frequency and routes of buses in the metropolitan area of Asunción. The measure aims to curb so-called “ghost buses” – an illegal practice in which companies reduce the number of trips, leaving passengers waiting at stops.
Each of the more than 1,400 buses that run daily through the capital and its surroundings must transmit its exact location every 10 seconds. The system automatically cross-references this data with electronic ticket validations, allowing verification that drivers follow the established itinerary and schedule. When an irregularity is detected, the platform issues an alert and the offending company is subject to fines.
Hugo Ramos Vaesken, technical advisor to the VMT, said the first phase of implementation was well received by operators. “We observed more buses on the streets than in the previous four Mondays,” he said. The impact is already noticeable during peak hours, with greater predictability for users.
The control is based on Resolution No. 120/2025, which establishes performance indicators and evaluation parameters for public transport. In an initial three-month phase, fines will be applied only for failures during high-demand periods (peak and post-peak). After that, oversight will be extended to all periods of the day, from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m., including Sundays and holidays.
Companies are responsible for ensuring the correct transmission of GPS signals; lack of data will negatively impact their formal service quality indicator.