Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

BMTC to introduce 20 AC buses

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Nov. 25. Come Christmas Day, Bangaloreans will enjoy the luxury of air-conditioned (AC) buses to commute within the city. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is all set to introduce 20 AC buses on that day.

The BMTC Managing Director, Upendra Tripathy, said here on Tuesday that the bus routes were being identified and an introductory flat rate of Rs. 15 would be charged per trip. Speaking at a function organised to introduce new bus services, he said more AC buses would be introduced depending on the demand.

The AC buses, which would be called "Sheetal", would ply during peak hours — between 8.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m., and between 4.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.

Mr. Tripathy claimed that the BMTC was the first transport corporation in the country to introduce AC buses on city routes.

He said the corporation would add 1,000 Euro II buses to its fleet of 3,000 buses between April and September next year. They would cost the BMTC Rs. 100 crore, he added.

In its effort to check pollution, the BMTC was using diesel with a lower content of sulphur. "The diesel used earlier contained 0.25 mg. of sulphur. The fuel now in use has only 0.05 mg. of sulphur. We are now spending 60 paise more on every litre of diesel," he explained.

The new Euro II buses would have the Global Positioning System (GPS), which would enable the BMTC authorities to monitor the movement of buses. Electronic boards to give information to passengers would be installed in buses, Mr. Tripathy said.

He said the BMTC had set up a cell for giving assistance to victims of accidents involving its buses.

The cell, which would be headed by the BMTC Divisional Traffic Officer, would direct "Sarathi" patrol jeeps to rush to accident spots and shift those injured to the nearest hospital. The cell would also give information to the families of accident victims, he added.

Five mini buses to ply between Yeshwantpur and Marathhalli every 30 minutes were flagged off at the function. They are part of the rural services for which 150 buses are proposed to be introduced.

A lucky draw scheme for pass-holders (who buy passes between November 26 and December 25) was inaugurated at the function. The prize is a Maruti Omni. The BMTC's house magazine, Sanchara, was also launched.

The BMTC General Manager, H.K. Vishwanath, and the Assistant Traffic Manager, V. Nagaraj, were present.

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