KSRTC buses to ferry techies from home to office and back

In an effort to generate more revenue, the government-run Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is looking at providing shuttle bus services to various companies, especially those in the IT and ITeS  sector, in Bengaluru.

The move has been positively received by the companies as they find the buses more affordable and reliable than private transport.

At present, the KSRTC provides shuttle services to the IT major Infosys in Mysuru. Rajender Kumar Kataria, Managing Director of the KSRTC, told Deccan Herald, “Some companies have approached us showing interest in hiring our buses to ferry their employees from home to office and back.”

In Bengaluru, only a few companies use the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s (BMTC) shuttle service to transport their employees. Most of the companies rely on private
transporters. “Considering the demand from the corporate sector, we have decided to offer shuttle services at competitive rates,” Kataria said. Being a government agency, the KSRTC is seen by the companies as more reliable, he added.

Companies prefer the KSRTC to the BMTC as the former’s non-airconditioned buses have recliner seats. “Rajahamsa and Karnataka Vaibhav buses can cater to their needs,” Kataria said, adding that the corporation was even willing to buy new buses if the need arose.

The KSRTC hopes to sign contracts with several companies in the coming days to provide them transport services. It will use its reserve fleet for these operations, Kataria said.

Companies want the service during morning and evening peak hours. If everything goes as per the plan, the KSRTC will soon start the operations on a contract permit.

“This is also likely to reduce traffic congestion to some extent as buses can ferry more people than maxi cabs and cabs,” a KSRTC official said.