Commuters: Wrap ads make BMTC buses unrecognisable

Spread across the sides and backs of the buses, the flashy artwork of these ads is making it challenging to tell them apart from private buses, commuters say.

In addition to grappling with a hike in fares, BMTC bus commuters are faced with a new problem — advertisements. Spread across the sides and backs of the buses, the flashy artwork of these ads is making it challenging to tell them apart from private buses, they say.

Vijayalakshmi, a domestic worker, uses the bus daily to travel from her home in Ganapathipura to Lavelle Road where she works at multiple houses. “It has become difficult to spot the right bus especially from the side,” she says, adding, “It is worse for those who can’t read. It would make things easier if there was some sort of indication on the sides as well.”

Dusty old boards

Buses with LED boards are easier to identify. Kaanthamma, another domestic worker, points out that with such buses one can easily read the number and route. “But, older buses also have dusty boards and sometimes this makes it hard for me to read,” she says.

It is a matter of the BMTC’s pride, believes Gunashekara Murthy, an employee with a private company. He travels daily between his home in Vijayanagar and Peenya where he works. “The advertisements are ugly and spoil the aesthetic of the bus. The BMTC logo is nowhere to be seen, which is a shame because it is an iconic symbol of the city,” states the 73-year-old.

Shaheen Shasa calls for an advertisement policy to limit how and where ads are placed. Shaheen is a member of the Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike. In Volvo buses, the windows are covered too and this makes it difficult to look outside. “It is a problem because you can’t see the stop so it is hard to know exactly where to disembark, and you can’t always hear what the conductor is saying,” she explains.

Prioritise route information

She adds that while there are more fundamental problems, such as infrequent buses and the recent fare hike, the smaller issues, which make the commute more difficult, are overlooked. “Even bus stops are covered in ads. Instead, the BMTC should focus on having clear route maps, explaining how to get to another place from where one is currently at,” she notes.

‘TRYING TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE’: BMTC OFFICIAL
It has been a month since such ads were introduced, says Nagendra chief traffic manager (commercial), BMTC. Earlier, the ads were restricted to the back of the bus. Due to an increase in demand, they have now started using the sides too, he shares. The BMTC has also received complaints from passengers about the depot numbers being covered by ads. “We are currently trying to rectify the issue and will consider making the BMTC sign bigger,” he says. Of the 6,000+ fleet, about 3,000 buses have been used for ads, he shares.