BANGALORE: To provide easy connectivity from the central areas to important hospitals in the city, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has introduced "hospital special service".

Transport Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy, who dedicated this service to the public on Wednesday, said this service was being introduced on three routes to provide connectivity to 22 important hospitals from the Kempegowda Bus Station.

This service would be operated by deploying Swaraj Mazda mini buses, which sport a prominent red cross and the names of en-route hospitals written in bold letters for easy identification by the public, he said.

The interiors of these buses had been designed in a "patient-friendly" way to ensure a comfortable journey. A collapsible bed, curtains and white paint apart from normal seats are provided in these buses.

Highlighting the features of these buses, a top BMTC official said that this service would be operated at a comparatively reduced fare to make it affordable to the poor.

Pointing out that only the sick and their attendant would be permitted to travel by these buses, the official said that the en-route bus stops had been located in close proximity of the hospitals and "hospital service" bus stop boards had been put up to identify exclusive stops for this service.

These buses would not stop at regular bus stops, he said.

Similarly, the BMTC launched 12 special buses for women and three buses for commuters visiting shopping malls and business hubs.

This was in response to an appeal made by women to the Chief Minister during the "Hello CM" programme recently.

The all-women bus will be operated with special exterior purple colour for easy identification. These buses are fitted with special fibre seats, FM Radio and handgrips suitable for women to make travel comfortable.

Four seats are reserved for the disabled and elderly women. Boys aged below 12 will be permitted to travel by these buses.

Hospital service routes

Route No. 1: Kempegowda Bus Station to Satya Sai Hospital via Wockhardt, Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain, Al-Ameen, CSI, Lady Curzon and Bowring, Ghousia, Manipal, Vaidehi and Satya Sai Hospitals.

Route No. 2: Kempegowda Bus Station to Narayana Hrudayalaya via St. Martha's, Mallya, NIMHANS, Kidwai, St. John's and Narayana Hrudayalaya.

Route No. 3: Kempegowda Bus Station to Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology via Minto Eye, Victoria, Vani Vilas, KIMS, Bangalore Hospital, Nature Cure, Jayanagar General, Sagar Apollo hospitals and Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology.

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