Go mall-hopping, courtesy BMTC

Go mall-hopping, courtesy BMTC
The Times of India

Bangalore: Love mall-hopping but hate the traffic? Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s (BMTC) mall-specials will soon become your best friend.
BMTC is all set to launch buses that will cover all major malls and shopping areas in the city — not just Bangalore Central, Garuda Mall, Forum and Big Bazaar, but also your favourite haunts on Brigade Road, Commercial Street and M G Road.

All you need to do is pick up a pass that is likely to be priced at Rs 50. And hop off at any stop and take the next bus once you’re done shopping.”This pass can be used like a regular BMTC daily pass (that costs Rs 25) on these buses. With such a system, we believe that congestion on the roads, especially in junctions near malls, will be eased out,’’ says BMTC managing director Upendra Tripathy.

Chief traffic manager Dastagir Sharieff says the proposed fare will be another winning proposition for commuters. “Parking is expensive at these malls, even for two-wheelers. At Rs 50, you can park your car in a single mall for a few hours,’’ he reasons.

Pushpak buses will be deputed on this route, which spans roughly 20 km, and will run at a frequency of once an hour on weekdays. On weekends and general holidays, the frequency will stepped up to once in half an hour.

“On Sundays, Volvo buses will be added to the Pushpaks, since we don’t ply Volvos as frequently on Sundays,’’ says Tripathy. However, the Rs 50 pass will not hold good on the mall route and commuters will have to pay the regular Volvo rates.

BMTC is currently in the process of finalising stops and getting the required co-operation from the traffic police, mall-owners and shop-keepers’ associations to ensure that stops are close to the shopping areas.

So, the next time you want to indulge yourself in some serious retail therapy, remember that at least the commuting will be smooth — and at a discount!

SHOPAHOLIC’S ROUTE
Bus will start at Shivajinagar and ply near Commercial Street and stop near Kamaraj Road. Then it will come to M G Road and stop near Brigade Road. Next, it will take a turn and stop at Mayo Hall opposite Bangalore Central and go down the street to Garuda Mall. It will go further towards Globus and LifeStyle and travel towards Koramangala to reach Forum and Big Bazaar on Hosur Road. The last shoppers’ stop will be Big Bazaar at BMTC Shantinagar bus station. From there, bus will return to Shivajinagar.