<p>The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) launched its feeder services months before the commercial operation of the Metro began. But on Day One, (Thursday), a little more than 500 passengers utilised the service between 4 pm and 10.30 pm. The number includes the passengers at all the six metro stations. And, only one Metro-BMTC (Saarige) pass was sold on the day.<br /><br />“We can’t go by the first day’s figure. We started late and also, people are yet to use the Metro for what it is actually built. We have advertised enough and can’t say people are not aware,” said M P Prabhudas, Chief Traffic Manager (Operations). He claimed that the feeder services are the first-ever concept introduced to ensure last mile connectivity.<br /><br />In fact, for a majority of passengers on the Metro over the last two days, it has been only a jolly ride.<br /><br />“The Metro is a spectacle now. We will know the efficiency of the feeder services only after a week, by which time the early excitement of people will die down,” said Syed Samiulla, Inspector Feeder Service from BMTC at MG Road station. <br /><br />Amongst the five routes provided by BMTC on MG Road, the maximum used is MF 4 to Bowring Institute, Anil Kumble Circle and back to the station. And the number of passengers who bought a ticket on this route (apart from those who hold a BMTC pass) was a meagre 21.<br /><br />Samiulla said he saw many people coming out of the station and waiting for autos to go to the destination where feeder services were available. He felt that commuting public were yet to get used to the concept of feeder services.<br /><br />The BMTC is currently operating 60 buses, of which ten are mini vans. Maximum buses operate from Baiyappanahalli (14), Indiranagar (12) and MG Road (11). <br /></p>
<p>The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) launched its feeder services months before the commercial operation of the Metro began. But on Day One, (Thursday), a little more than 500 passengers utilised the service between 4 pm and 10.30 pm. The number includes the passengers at all the six metro stations. And, only one Metro-BMTC (Saarige) pass was sold on the day.<br /><br />“We can’t go by the first day’s figure. We started late and also, people are yet to use the Metro for what it is actually built. We have advertised enough and can’t say people are not aware,” said M P Prabhudas, Chief Traffic Manager (Operations). He claimed that the feeder services are the first-ever concept introduced to ensure last mile connectivity.<br /><br />In fact, for a majority of passengers on the Metro over the last two days, it has been only a jolly ride.<br /><br />“The Metro is a spectacle now. We will know the efficiency of the feeder services only after a week, by which time the early excitement of people will die down,” said Syed Samiulla, Inspector Feeder Service from BMTC at MG Road station. <br /><br />Amongst the five routes provided by BMTC on MG Road, the maximum used is MF 4 to Bowring Institute, Anil Kumble Circle and back to the station. And the number of passengers who bought a ticket on this route (apart from those who hold a BMTC pass) was a meagre 21.<br /><br />Samiulla said he saw many people coming out of the station and waiting for autos to go to the destination where feeder services were available. He felt that commuting public were yet to get used to the concept of feeder services.<br /><br />The BMTC is currently operating 60 buses, of which ten are mini vans. Maximum buses operate from Baiyappanahalli (14), Indiranagar (12) and MG Road (11). <br /></p>
