BMTC's connectivity draws commuters in droves

Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) may have incurred a loss of Rs 147 crore last year, but that hasn’t dented its popularity. Passenger load for the last three years has been going up.

 A whopping 45 lakh passengers travelled by BMTC in 2011, 48 lakh in 2012, and 52 lakh in 2013, an increase of seven lakh passengers over three years.

The increase in passenger load is due to a variety of reasons. BMTC’s reach has increased over the course of years - from the City centre and mainstream BBMP areas, the transport corporation buses now travel to suburban areas in all zones of Bangalore. BMTC reaches Bidadi in south-western parts, Kanakapura in the south, Hoskote in the east, Devanahalli in the north and Magadi in the west. Because of certainty of bus connection, a lot more people are travelling to and from KR Market and Majestic to suburban locations.

The suburban regions are at an average distance of 35 km to 40 km from City centre.

The introduction of BIG 10 services around the City from MG Road., though started on a hesitant note, has now become popular. Then there are buses exclusively meant for ring roads across four zones of City. From Mysore Road to Banashankari to ITPL to Hebbal and Nelamangala, there are plenty of services now. Together, the three services — suburban, BIG 10 and ring road have ensured people from far-off places have a bus connection. Their travel has added to the passenger load. Even places outside suburban limits like Anekal, Doddaballapur and Chikkaballapur are now connected with BMTC services.

Inside the City, the number of people travelling point to point has also gone up. Jayanagar to Majestic, Koramangala to Majestic, or Whitefield to Majestic and back, Bannerghatta Road and IT corridor are the routes which see high number of passengers. The passenger load has gone up despite competition from private buses which have services to suburban areas too. 

This has meant that people want reliable bus service that operates on time. BMTC has been able to meet the expectations of travelling public from suburban areas to City and back.

The BIG 10 service is a hit among people working around MG Road. Advertisement professional Rashmi Menon who works on MG Road says: “I walk down from my office to Brigade Road junction where BIG 10 services operate from. I travel to VI Block Koramangala. It’s convenient, I save money. The frequency is not bad in the evenings.”

Rajesh Kumar travels from Kengeri to Whitefield. He is happy he gets a reliable service to Whitefield from Majestic. “During peak hours, we have Volvo buses every five minutes to Marathalli and Whitefield. The journey is comfortable, but more importantly, buses are available at frequent intervals. I manage to travel from Kengeri to Majestic in the ordinary BMTC service. There is one Volvo service which goes allround ring road before reaching the ITPL main road. But the frequency of this bus is limited. There are plenty of options at Majestic.”

BMTC Managing Director Anjum Pervez told Deccan Herald that the loss was on account of hike in salary.

The other was high price of diesel which increased by Rs 10 over one and a half years. The rising cost of spare parts for buses also contributed to the loss.”