BMTC to get three more Volvo buses

BMTC to get three more Volvo buses

The Hindu

Service to ITPL to be launched soon

# The Electronic City route to get two more buses
# The ITPL service will ply via Airport Road and Marathalli
# BMTC says public response to Volvo service encouraging

BANGALORE: With three more Volvo buses slated to join the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) fleet, the corporation is all set to introduce Volvo service between Kempe Gowda Bus Station (KGBS) and Information Technology Park Ltd., (ITPL) in a few days.

To begin with, the new route will have only one service and two other buses will be deployed on the existing Electronic City route, according to BMTC Managing Director Upendra Tripathy.

He told The Hindu that the corporation had decided to deploy at least five buses on each route and hence the Electronic City route would get two more. The ITPL service would ply via Airport Road and Marathalli, as there is huge demand, he said.

BMTC had planned to introduce at least 50 Volvo buses on select routes with 25 of the vehicles coming from private operators. However, private operators are yet to provide buses. With an air-conditioned ambience that provides not only comfort but also protection from air pollution, BMTC intends to attract regular users of cars and motorcycles to its premium service.

The buses, equipped with the state-of-the-art technology, feature six-speed auto transmission gear box for better fuel efficiency, kneeling mechanism to increase and reduce the floor height, disc brakes on all wheels with Electronic Braking System (EBS) for best possible road safety, minimum turning radius of 10.5 metres, tubeless tyres and Euro III complaint as standard fitment.

The corporation has received an encouraging response for its Volvo service launched on the Electronic City route in January. BMTC Chief Traffic Manager Dastagir Sharief said the route had registered an average 65 per cent occupancy during the 24 trips (one way) a day.

Though BMTC had planned to operate 30 trips a day, it did not materialise due to congested roads, Mr. Sharief said. Therefore, the corporation had been demanding dedicated lanes at least on ring roads, he said.

The BMTC was yet to break even in its Volvo services. Mr. Sharief said the cost per km came to Rs. 17 and if the occupancy rate crossed 80 per cent, the corporation would break even, he said.

The higher costs were due to keeping the engine running even during long traffic jams because the air-conditioner had to be kept on.