BMTC demarcates routes for Volvo buses

BMTC demarcates routes for Volvo buses
Deccan Herald

The idea of introducing Volvo buses is to dissuade people from using private transport by offering them more interesting alternatives, Mr Tripathi said.

Soon, it’ll be ‘cool’ to travel by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses, literally, with the BMTC launching Volvo buses in Bangalore this year. But will this luxury reach your doorstep?

Most probably not, as the BMTC has identified only 10 out of the 900 routes for the Volvo operations, and this number amounts to less than 1 per cent of the total routes. However, these luxury intra-city buses will also have limited stoppages to make the proposition more viable.

The travel stretches range from 10 kilometres to 76 kilometres, with the shortest being the route between Kempegowda bus stand to Banashankari IIIrd stage via Chamarajpet, and the longest being a full circle from Banashankari to Banashankari. The latter will be operated on a split route, from Banashankari to Marathahalli, Marathahalli to Hebbal and Central Board to Kalyan Nagar. The entire trip will be covered in less than three hours.

Even though the routes are not many, the BMTC hopes that it can reduce the two-wheeler population by five per cent and the number of cars by two per cent.

“The idea of introducing Volvo buses is to dissuade people from using private transport by offering them more interesting alternatives,” explained BMTC Managing Director Upendra Tripathi.

The BMTC is counting on the fact that an air-conditioned ambience, faster travel and cheaper mode of transport will be a temptation too hard to resist for Bangalore’s motorists. With the State government allocating Rs 15 crore to the BMTC for procurement of Volvo buses, work is on in full swing to acquire the “low-floored, Euro III, gearless, citizen-friendly” Volvos by the transport corporation.

Negotiations are on, and orders are expected to be placed by June. And if things work as per schedule, the Volvos will be ready to hit the City roads by the year-end, Mr Tripathi said.

Routes proposed to be operated by Volvo Vehicles in city

Route Route Running No. of Freq Fare Length time Bus (in Rs)

Kempegowda Bus Stn to Airport 13Kms 40 Mnts 5 20 mints 15

(Route No. 333J)

Kempegowda bus stn to Electronic City 24Kms 55 Mnts 4 30 mnts 25

(Route No. 356C)

Kempegowda Bus Stn to Koramangala 15Kms 45 Mnts 3 30 mnts 15

(Route No. 171)

Kempegowda Bus Stn to J P Nagar 6th 13Kms 40 Mnts 4 25 mnts 15

Phase (Route No. 2E)

Kempegowda Bus Stn to Vidyaranyapura 14.5 Kms 40 Mnts 4 25 mnts 15

(Route No. 276)

Srinagar to Domlur (Route No. 201) 29 Kms 80 Mnts 6 30 mnts 30

Banashankari to Banashankari 76 Kms 155 Mnts 4 40 mnts 65

(Route No. 500)

Kempegowda Bus Stn to Banashankari lO Kms 30 Mnts 3 25 mnts 10

IIIrd Stage (Route No. 45G)

Kempegowda Bus Stn to C V Raman 18 Kms 50 Mnts 5 25 mnts 20

Nagar (RouteNo.314B)

Kempegowda Bus Stn to Yelahanka Sat 19.5 Kms 50 Mnts 5 25 mnts 20

Town 5th Phase (Route N0.284D/402B)