The Hindu : BMTC's new service brings some relief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 26, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

BMTC's new service brings some relief

By Govind D. Belgaumkar

BANGALORE, MARCH 25. The introduction of the air-conditioned minibus service by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation has brought some relief to commuters such as Narayan, an employee of the Indian Telephone Industries factory at K.R. Puram.

A part of his journey from office to home has now been made comfortable. For, he reaches the Kempegowda Bus Station from his office in an ordinary bus, and takes the new air-conditioned minibus to Chandra Layout from there.

Mr. Narayan and a few others have welcomed the new service from the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation.

However, they do not want it to go the "Pushpak" (another bus service of the transport corporation) way. They also want the fare for the new service to be reduced.

However, the first three trips of an air-conditioned minibus to Chandra Layout had only about half a dozen commuters travelling on their return journey.

But about 20 commuters travelled by the bus when it left the Kempegowda Bus Station. The transport corporation officers said this was because there was no ordinary bus service for about 15 minutes prior to the departure of the new bus.

The fare is fixed at Rs. 15 each for a trip to Marthahalli, JP Nagar and Koramangala from the Kempegowda Bus Station while it is Rs. 10 each for a trip to Chandra Layout and Nandini Layout. The minimum fare on the new bus is Rs. 10. Some of the commuters said they found the air-conditioned buses comfortable. Mr. Narayan has started using the service regularly.

Tahseen, a student of fashion designing, said, "I do not mind paying a bit more for comfort."

Harish, another student who lives at Vijayanagar, said the service between the Kempegowda Bus Station and Vijayanagar could be offered at Rs. 7 each.

Mariyappa of Dommasandra said, "The transport corporation should introduce such services keeping the poor in mind."

However, Mr. Narayan doubted whether the transport corporation could maintain the quality of service.

"When the Pushpak bus services were introduced, the transport corporation committed not to have more stops for the services and not to allow commuters to stand and travel. Today, the Pushpak is like any other service. Soon, this (air-conditioned service) too will go the same way," he said.

But another commuter said a "hi-tech city" such as Bangalore should have air-conditioned bus services.

The managing director of the transport corporation, P. Upendra Tripathi, said unless the people paid adequately for the service, maintaining it would become difficult.

He said five more services would be added in a couple of months. He said the new bus service had received encouraging response from the commuters.

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