Lack of bus shelters hassles BMTC riders on Mysuru Rd

Six years after the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation introduced the concept of ‘Bus Day’ to encourage citizens to use public transport, the idea is floundering in many areas due to lack of bus shelters.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, which took over the task of building bus shelters, has failed to put up adequate shelters.

In fact, its ambitious plans to erect 2,200 shelters last year did not see the light of day.

This has left the BMTC fuming as its Bus Day could not succeed in many places.

Rising temperatures are indeed a deterrent to many commuters to take buses where shelters are only conspicuous by their absence.

Even in places where shelters exist, their dilapidated condition is proving
to be a dampener for commuters.

“I have to wait for 25 minutes to get a bus to office,” said Srinivasa N, a research analyst residing in Nayandahalli.
“The wait is longer in the evening. The bus shelter near my office has a rusted bench, damaged panels and the railings have not been painted in years.”

The condition is worse in the Deepanjali Nagar bus station. The BMTC has diverted buses to the satellite town, but commuters stand on the road waiting for buses with the scorching heat and steadily flowing traffic providing no respite.

Locals complain that the place turns creepy after 10 pm.

“This alarms women commuters getting home late. There are no patrolmen at that time,” said Nanjunda, a resident.

“The bigger problem is the commute from the metro station to the Mysuru Road satellite bus station. After 7 pm, the bus frequency decreases, causing hardships to people living near the satellite bus station. Auto drivers can charge anything they deem fit as the commute distance is shorter.”

The BMTC should ensure at least three buses to ferry people from the vantage point until the metro closes down for the day.

It should also have the police presence to curb rash driving since the lane is one-way and cars and buses zoom by at full speed.

The presence of the V-junction clogs the entire Mysuru Road in the afternoon as cars and buses cross the place in larger numbers.