Now, travel on BMTC's AC buses to Channapatna

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Authority (BMTC) has introduced eight new 'Vajra Vistara' air-conditioned Volvo bus services between the Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic) and Channapatna. 

Former Bangalore Rural MP and BAMUL president, DK Suresh, and Channapatna MLA CP Yogeshwara flagged off the services at Majestic on May 8. 

The BMTC has been launching bus services to neighbouring towns after the Transport Department expanded its operational area up to 40 km beyond the city limits late last year.

In March this year, it launched Vajra Vistara services connecting Majestic to Ramanagara and Banashankari to Kanakapura. The Channapatna service is an extension of the Ramanagara route. 

The Majestic-Ramanagara route (V-EX-RMN-1, which sees 32 daily trips with six buses, has served 33,000 passengers so far. Following public demand, the service is being extended to Channapatna. 

The Majestic-Channapatna bus service (V-CPT-1) is being operated with eight buses and 44 daily trips. 

The first service from Majestic is at 7.20 am and the last at 9.40 pm. The first service from Channapatna is at 5.15 am and the last at 7.05 pm. 

The fare, inclusive of toll charges and GST, is Rs 105. The Ramanagara-Channapatna fare is Rs 25. 

The BMTC is also offering passes: daily (Rs 180); weekly (Rs 1,000), and monthly (Rs 2,700). 

The corporation also plans to introduce AC bus services connecting Bengaluru to Malur, Vijayapura and Solur in the coming months. 

The BMTC insists that it will not compete with the KSRTC, which operates bus services to satellite towns and far-off cities.

According to the BMTC, the KSRTC operates ordinary (non-AC) services to these neighbouring towns, while it's planning only AC services. 

In April 2023, the BMTC launched Volvo bus services to Chikkaballapur — its longest route at the time — with the KSRTC's permission. 

The BMTC operates 6,275 bus services with 65,952 trips daily, covering 13.06 lakh km.