The Hindu : Karnataka News : KSRTC bid to smoothen the road to Devanahalli

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Friday, Mar 14, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

KSRTC bid to smoothen the road to Devanahalli

Anil Kumar Sastry

Direct bus services from Mysore, Tumkur and Hosur to new airport

Inter Modal Transit Centre to come up near the Trumpet Interchange
KSRTC, APSRTC buses to stop at the IMTC

BANGALORE: In line with other agencies offering ancillary services at the new Bangalore International Airport, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has geared up to extend the benefits of its services to airport passengers.

The corporation will construct a state-of-the-art Inter Modal Transit Centre (IMTC) near the Trumpet Interchange on National Highway 7 on two and a half acres of land to be allotted by the Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation (KSIIDC). It will also operate direct bus service to the airport from prominent cities around Bangalore.

The land is located right in the middle of the trumpet interchange and KSIIDC will offer it on leasehold basis. The modalities of land transfer and the lease rental are yet to be worked out.

As KSIIDC has already handed over half an acre of land, KSRTC will construct a bus shelter and other buildings for passenger amenities before the airport commences its operation. Other facilities include provision for prepaid autorickshaw and taxi stands and shuttle services between IMTC and BIA, between IMTC and Majestic.

KSRTC Director (Security & Vigilance) M.A. Saleem told The Hindu that the corporation was operating an early morning Airavata (Volvo) direct service from Mysore to the HAL Airport.

While the Mysore service will be continued to BIA, the corporation will operate direct services from Tumkur and Hosur to BIA for the benefit of residents of these two important places, Mr. Saleem said. These services operate up to the arrival/ departure lounges of BIA.

Dropping passengers

All KSRTC and APSRTC buses operating on Bellary Road (between Bangalore and Hyderabad, Chikkaballapur, Doddaballapur, Hindupur, Anantapur and other areas) will stop at the IMTC to drop and pick up passengers. Also, KSRTC will run shuttle services to Majestic at regular intervals from IMTC. BMTC, which has planned to operate 160 Bangalore International Airport Special (BIAS) services, will also utilise the IMTC.

BMTC’s 9th route

Apart from eight BIAS routes, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will operate BIAS 9 from Kempe Gowda Bus Station (KBS) to BIA.

BMTC Chief Traffic Manager (Operations) Dastagir Sharief told The Hindu that the Corporation has identified a slot at KBS in front of KBS Manager’s Office to operate the services. BIAS 9 will cater to passengers arriving at KBS as well as the City Railway Station.

Mr. Sharief said BIAS 9 fleet mainly comprises specially designed Suvarna coaches rather than Vajra (Volvo) coaches. This decision is taken considering the profile and requirements of passengers arriving and departing at the bus and railway stations.

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