“The Bus Day initiative was a big success. We had 150 to 200 additional buses pressed into service to accommodate more number of people,” said Pasha.
According to BMTC officials the plying of private vehicles was reduced by 10 to 15 per cent, primarily on the Hosur Road and Old Airport Road.
Speaking on the possibility of including additional routes from the next Bus Day Pasha said, “We are cautious of including additional routes. The focus of the initiative now is to encourage the travelling public to use public transport and thereby reduce vehicular pollution and congestion.”
According to an estimate, on a regular day 269 ordinary buses ply to and from Electronic City on Hosur Road making 2,262 trips apart from 43 Volvo Vajra buses that make 1,044 trips. The BMTC also undertakes close to 1,018 trips to the Information Technology Park Limited (ITPL) daily through 140 ordinary buses, while 100 Volvo Vajra buses make 784 trips. The Electronic City Companies’ Association (ECCA) and Outer Ring Road Companies’ Association estimated that an additional 10,000 people ride in BMTC buses on Bus Day.
All previous partners with the BMTC such as Bangalore City Traffic Police, Praja, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) in addition to new partners such as the Radio One and Telebrahma (through Bluetooth) encouraged travellers to use buses.
The Bus Day was observed on Bannerghatta Road, Hosur Road, Sarjapur Road, Old Airport Road and Old Madras Road, interconnecting Outer and Inner Ring Road.
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