Hundreds of commuters residing in Kogilu, Yelahanka and surrounding areas en route Kempegowda International Airport have been left high and dry with the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) preferring to ply buses on the newly constructed expressway.

The BMTC buses (BIAS service) used to ply on the road beneath the expressway.
However, after the commissioning of the expressway, a majority of the buses are taking the new route, which leads them directly to Hebbal, thereby significantly cutting down on the travelling time.

What’s worse is that regular commuters who have purchased monthly or quarterly passes have been hard hit with the BMTC changing the route.

The expressway flyover, constructed at a cost of Rs 600 crore was thrown open to public last month.

Srinivasan K, a resident of the area – and hundreds like him who use the BIAS bus services to reach their workplaces in the morning – had complained to the BMTC managing director in this regard. But with the buses not stopping anymore at Kogilu and Yelahanka on both sides, the commuters are feeling left out and cheated by the transport corporation.

Shyna, a resident of Yelahanka, who uses the bus service to reach her college in Vasanthanagar, said, “Since the bus service is no longer available, I have started hiring autorickshaw halfway and tag along with a friend on a two-wheeler for another five kilometre .”

According to BMTC General Manager (Traffic) V N Veeregowda, certain buses were plying on the expressway due to requests from frequent flyers.

“But, BIAS 9, BIAS 10 continue to ply on the road beneath. We have segregated buses accordingly. It is just that earlier buses were available every four to five minutes and now, the waiting time has gone up slightly.”

BMTC Managing Director Anjum Parvez said he had no knowledge of the problem.
“It should not happen. If there is some problem regarding bus services, we will look into it,” he said.