BMTC to run hitech bus services soon

BMTC to run hitech bus services soon

The Hindu

The low-floor buses will be air-conditioned

# 25 such buses will be taken on contract from private operators
# All the buses will be equipped with global positioning system
# Fare likely to be higher than that of the other services

BANGALORE: Bangalore will soon get a gift from Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) in the form of air-conditioned, low-floor and auto transmission Volvo buses of Euro III model.

While 25 buses are to be taken on contract from private operators, BMTC will deploy another 25 on its own, officials said. BMTC conductors will be deputed for the private buses, while the private operators will employ their own drivers.

All these buses are to be equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS), and the private operator will be paid based on the kilometres covered.

The fare structure is likely to be higher than that of the other services.

The officials said three private operators have shown interest in the proposal and the agreement process will be finalised soon.

On the other hand, a prototype vehicle for BMTC was in the final stages and once it was found suitable, other buses would be built.

According to Volvo-South Asia head and vice-president, Akash Passey, the first batch of 25 Volvo buses will be delivered to BMTC before March. In 2005, 400 Volvo buses were sold and they are being used by inter-city operators and on the India-Pakistan route, he said.

Equipment

The buses will have six-speed auto transmission gear box for better fuel efficiency, a mechanism to increase and reduce the height of the floor, disc brakes on all wheels with electronic braking system (EBS), a minimum turning radius of 10.5 meters, tubeless tyres and Euro III complaint as standard fitment.

The move is aimed at luring two-wheeler and car users to travel in BMTC buses with comfort and in less time, the officials said. Initially, the buses would be deployed on a few busy routes, including the Outer Ring Road (ORR) route, and depending upon the response, would be extended on other routes too.

While the shortest route would be between Kempe Gowda Bus Station and JP Nagar 6th Phase, the longest would be the circular route from Banashankari to Banashankari on the Outer Ring Road.

The corporation is confident that two-wheeler and car users would be tempted to use the hitech buses that offer air-conditioned ambience, faster travel and cheaper mode of transport.

While BMTC's efforts to acquire the buses are in the final stages, private operators will soon hand over their share of buses to the corporation, the officials said.

BMTC has proposed to ply these hitech buses initially on the following routes: Kempe Gowda Bus Station to JP Nagar 6th Phase; Banashankari to Banashankari (Outer Ring Road); Srinagar to Domlur; Kempe Gowda Bus Station to Koramangala; Kempe Gowda Bus Station to Electronic City; and Kempe Gowda Bus Station to Whitefield.