At this bus depot in Bengaluru, buttermilk for all

At BMTC bus depot 21 in Rajajinagar, bus conductors, drivers and sometimes even commuters have been taking respite from the heat with a glass of buttermilk. It is an initiative taken up by the depot staff. “We started this initiative last year but it was done on a much smaller scale. We ran it for a few days each week. This time, the buttermilk will be available throughout the summer,” a member of the staff told Metrolife.

The staff makes the drink using RO water. They make 25 litres of buttermilk daily, which costs less than Rs 1,000. It is served free of cost from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm. “We have noticed it being used by elderly folk who work in and around the depot,” he added. 

It is entirely funded by the staff. Sometimes, one member of the staff will sponsor the entire day’s drink if it is his birthday or some other special occasion. Some funding also comes in from CSR initiatives, he shared. An LED screen placed next to the buttermilk counter displays the name of the individual who has sponsored the drink for the day.