Volvo: All dressed up and no space to go

Volvo: All dressed up and no space to go
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: ‘‘Your attention please, passengers in the back seats are requested to wear your belts,’’ announces the driver of the BMTC’s new Volvo bus in Kannada before take off at Majestic.

The sheen is lost once the hi-tech bus gets caught in the city’s infamous traffic. The buses, which are to ply between 7.30 AM and 8.30 PM, are struggling to stick to schedules and are able to complete only three trips a day instead of five.

Of the three buses that were supposed to hit the road by Feb 1, only two are plying. According to sources, the third bus has some mechanical problems and will ply only after a few days.

The buses are plying between Kempegowda Bus Stand and Electronics City with stops at Maharani’s College, Corporation, Shanthinagar, Muneshwara Temple, St John’s Hospital, Madiwala and Bommanahalli.

The drivers and conductors have been specially trained by Volvo Corporation.

‘‘Initially, 50 drivers who had passed PU were selected. Nine out of them were shortlisted. Among other qualities, knowledge of English was also given priority,’’ RM Ramachandrappa, the driver of 356 C told this correspondent.

The drivers were trained on geared and automatic Volvos.

‘‘Electronic buttons have replaced gear levers in this bus,’’ the driver announced cheerfully.

"The buses can travel at a maximum speed of 120 km an hour. ‘‘But in the city we can touch only upto 60 km,’’ he added.

Raja Nayak, one of the 12 conductors said the job has become easier for him. ‘‘It is not very crowded, the sound proof glasses and the air conditioning make pleasant,’’ he added.

The luxury bus is running under a loss. The ordinary BMTC buses should earn Rs 18 per km while the Volvos must earn Rs 47 per km to meet the cost.

At present, the Volvos are able to earn just Rs 27 a km. Abhijeeth Shivappa, an employee at Infosys Progeon, commuting on the bus said bus is comfortable and less crowded. ‘‘But only the upper middleclass can afford this everyday,’’ he said.

Commuters seemed thrilled about travelling on the bus. But some had a few complaints.

‘‘The windows need to be tinted or curtains fixed,’’ said Radha, an engineer at Siemens. ‘‘Leg room is not enough,’’ added another commuter Johnson, a software engineer at Batni.

Dedicated lanes: BMTC Chief Traffic Manager Dastagir Sheriff said dedicated lanes were required for BMTC buses.

‘‘The traffic menace ruins the Volvo bus ride. BMTC buses should have dedicated lanes at some parts in the city,’’ he added.