JOIN USBus shelters, poor in design, utility
Bengaluru might have one of the best city bus services in the country, but the bus shelters score low in terms of functionality, design and maintenance. BBMP is the custodian of these bus shelters, and commuters often wonder why these structures help advertisers more than people!
One of the most intriguing aspects of the 1,000 odd bus shelters spread across the city is this: They do not provide even the basic information pertaining to the bus routes or bus numbers. At some bus shelters, even the name of the stop is missing.
BBMP is responsible for both building and maintaining the bus shelters. Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) authorities have often complained that the bus shelters are designed unscientifically with many too close to the traffic signal, thus making it difficult for commuters to alight or board the buses.
Besides, many bus shelters are located too close to each other, apparently to serve the purpose of the advertisers who pay to put up hoardings atop and within the structures. Yet, on many roads where the shelters are an absolute necessity, there are none, leaving passengers exposed to rain and sun.
The shelters also serve as homes for several homeless people in the city. They could often be spotted spreading their wares and personal stuff inside, scaring away passengers. Many commuters hesitate to even get in.
BMTC, which was supposed to launch an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) equipping all buses equipped with GPS systems, had planned to integrate the bus shelters in the system. As part of this, digital information boards were to be put up at the bus shelters to provide real-time information on bus arrivals for waiting commuters.
SRS Murthy, a resident of Kalyan Nagar 1st block, complains that although his locality is old, there are no bus shelters at all in the area. “There is not even a single bus shelter on 9th Main road. The bus shelter near Vinayaka Temple in our area needs to be upgraded. Also, the BMTC buses passing through our localities need to include Kalyan Nagar first block on the ticker boards for the people to know.”
Here’s what Rashmi, a resident of Indiranagar, has to say on the matter:
“Most of the bus shelters in Indiranagar, be it on 100 ft road or 80 ft or even CMH Road, resemble political party offices with hoardings of politicians splashed across. In a way, these bus shelters scare away the commuters who end up standing on the road to wait for the buses. The shelters are for the public and they should have information regarding buses and not politicians' photographs.”