KSRTC plans 'white buses' to connect hospitals

Two buses to be operated under Nurm

Local authorities of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses  are toying with the idea of connecting both the government and private hospitals in the city, through white coloured buses.

KSRTC that is awaiting 85 buses in total under the second phase of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) to the city alone, has decided to operate the buses exclusively to the hospitals. Initially, it will be experimented with two buses soon after the arrival of the newly sanctioned vehicles.

Assistant Traffic Manager of KSRTC Urban depot, Maqsood Ahmed told Deccan Herald, said that as and when demand arises, especially from commuters, buses are operated on newer routes. Prior to that an internal survey is conducted only to verify the feasibility of the routes. The authorities are planning to ply buses exclusively to the hospitals in a similar fashion.

According to the route map prepared, the buses will start from the city bus stand connecting K R Hospital, Mission Hospital inside the city, River Valley Hospital, Bharat Cancer Hospital, ED and PKTB Sanatorium on the outskirts, Apollo BGS Hospitals in Kuvempunagar, Vatsalya Hospital near Nanjumalige and JSS Hospital on M G Road.

Apart from the hospitals, the pathology centres on the same route will also be covered for the benefit of the passengers.

For the benefit of both passengers and also others, the buses will be given a different look -- it will be painted white, and will be in sync which the health sector. The fare will be charged on the lines of other buses.

Ahmed said that recently following the demand, 10 buses are being operated between J P Nagar and L and T factory.

While eight buses pass via city bus stand, two pass through the main railway station junction. That apart, buses between Sathagalli and Infosys, Narayana Hrudalaya to BEML Layout, Gayathripuram to J P Nagar and Sathagalli to Kuvempunagar were also added on the new routes.