Three more buses to be added to `Bangalore Rounds' fleet

Three more buses to be added to `Bangalore Rounds' fleet

The Hindu

Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation is happy with the response

# The service starts from Kempe Gowda bus station at 8.30 a.m.
# BMTC planning to outsource operations
# Corporation not aiming at profits

BANGALORE: Enthused by the response to its "Bangalore Rounds," the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is planning to add at least three more buses to the Bangalore Rounds fleet.

Known as "Curitiba" model bus, the air-conditioned Bangalore Rounds bus with plush interiors is fast becoming popular with visitors to the city. In view of this, three more buses would be added to the fleet in a few months, BMTC Chief Traffic Manager Dastagir Sharief told The Hindu.

Private participation

Meanwhile, BMTC is planning for limited outsourcing of operations of Bangalore Rounds. While the corporation provides the bus and the driver, the private partner will have to take care of marketing and sale of tickets. Mr. Sharief said the corporation was not aiming at making profits, but would be happy if it gets at least Rs. 5,000 per day towards the operating costs.

He said the corporation had already made known its plan and was awaiting the response of private partners.

Better accessibility

BMTC is of the view that tourists can get better accessibility through private tour operators as they have a better market reach.

Tourists and even Bangaloreans are happy that they would get to see important places in the city comfortably. When the bus passes through key places, the driver explains the importance of the place in Kannada and English. The tourists can also hear music and watch video clippings while travelling. Bangalore Rounds, starting from Kempe Gowda bus station at 8.30 a.m., covers Tipu Palace, Kote Venkataramanaswamy Temple, Dodda Ganesha Temple, Bull Temple, Gavigangadhareshwara Temple, Lalbagh, (break for lunch at Pai Viceroy, Jayanagar) Ulsoor Lake, M.G. Road, Visvesvaraya Museum, Venkatappa Art Gallery, Vidhana Soudha, Karnataka High Court, Cubbon Park, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain, ISKCON Temple and Prasanna Anjaneya Swami Temple before returning to Kempe Gowda bus station.

Tariff

There are 35 seats in the bus. While the tariff is Rs. 200/Rs. 250 on week days and weekends/holidays for adults in 32 for `Silver Class' seats, it is Rs. 300 and Rs. 350 respectively for three `Gold Class' seats, exclusive of any entry fee and lunch.

People can call 22952422/22952314 one day before the tour for registering their names, or for any other information.