BENGALURU: Transport utility BMTC holds the record for having the maximum number of buses in its fleet. But that doesn’t seems to have helped commuters, who pay the highest bus fares in the country.
Lekha Adavi, a member of Bengaluru Bus Prayaanikara Vedike, which is campaigning for better services, said BMTC has introduced more Volvo buses to places like Whitefield and Electronics City, targeting IT professionals, but reduced the normal buses in several routes.
“BMTC should reduce the bus fares and monthly passes. Most passengers cannot afford exorbitant bus fares,” she adds.
A BMTC official said, “It is not feasible to reduce the bus fares. The increase in monthly passes is due to service taxes levied by the Centre. We are considering a change in the schedules based on the traffic flow. We will also initiate action against drivers who do not complete their trips.”
Experts say that the city needs a Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) on the lines of Ahmedabad, but narrow roads and lack of government support remains a concern. For instance, a proposal for BRTS from Silk Board to Hebbal remains a non-starter.
M N Srihari, traffic expert and adviser to the government, said BRTS is ideal for roads such as the Old Airport Road, Outer Ring Road and Chord Road, which have four lanes. “The government should create a dedicated lanes for buses that can run every five minutes. BRTS requires far fewer resources than Metro and monorail projects but the government is not interested,” he said.
Officials, however, say the delay in expansion of BRTS is due to Metro and flyover works.
Traffic experts point out that BMTC should run more buses during peak hours, facilitate extra buses on high-density routes and introduce long-distance buses with fewer stops during peak hours. Many commuters complain they don’t use BMTC because most buses are overcrowded, especially during peak hours and the frequency remains poor.
“I want to use public transport because it is cheap. But how do they expect us to travel in buses where there is no place to stand, particularly during peak hours?” asked Smitha Rao, who recently opted to buy a scooter.
K Sidharth, who regularly travels on the G9 bus route (Yelahanka Satellite Town 5th Phase - Parade Ground) says, “I had to return home several times after waiting for a bus for an hour. Some drivers would not ply the entire route and take short cuts depending on traffic density.”
Bus drivers complain that schedules were fixed a decade ago. “Traffic condition has changed with more private vehicles on the roads. It is not possible for a driver to complete the trips and follow the old schedule. This is why buses don’t reach stops on time,” a BMTC driver said.