BMTC out to clog city roads

BMTC out to clog city roads
Vijay Times

The unscientific manner in which decisions are being taken to introduce 2,000-odd full-length chassis buses by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) threatens to further strangle the City.

At present, there are 4,000 buses, including 130 minibuses run by BMTC. Of these, 60 per cent run within the BMP limits (226 sq km) and the rest in the outer radius of the BMP limits extending up to 25 km.

This too is bound to come within the BMP limits with the announcement of Greater Bangalore concept. Shockingly, BMTC officials say there are plans to phase out mini-buses and introduce 2,000-odd buses, though most of them are planned to run on the outskirts.

Strangely, Dastagir Sharief, Chief Traffic Manager (Operations), citing the example of BMTC Volvo services, which have begun to encourage the public to shun their own transport, feels if BMTC bus frequencies are increased, roads would be free of congestion.

The BMTC is blaming the proliferation of privatelyowned vehicles for the congestion. Senior officials said a phenomenal increase in two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers has clogged the City roads. This trend is a result of a poor public transport in the City.

Experts feel the increasing purchasing power of the average Bangalorean is contributing to increase in the number of privately-owned vehicles. Worse, the newer car brands are bigger-bodied compared with the older ones.

In trying to achieve the objective of encouraging motorists to shift to public transport, BMTC is looking at introducing longer-chassis buses as officials are convinced that as their carriage capacity is larger, more motorists will shift to public transport.

But then, what about the chaotic traffic? Will Bangalore be able to take more than 6,000 buses running simultaneously? Prof M N Sreehari, chairman, Traffic Engineers and Safety Trainers (TEST), feels before introducing 2,000 more BMTC buses, the City roads need to be widened. Unfortunately, there is not much scope for that.

He has suggested grid route buses (which do not touch the City centre) as there is still some scope left for road expansion on the outskirts.

BMTC is considering withdrawing the recently-introduced Ladies Special buses as they are running empty except during peak hours. BMTC officials say if these buses are replaced with the recently-introduced three-door BMTC buses, it will help the corporation and commuters well.

"About 17 Ladies Special buses are being operated on various routes. They are full only during peak hours. This is proving to be a loss venture," the official said.

Interestingly, Dastagir Sharief, Chief Traffic Manager (Operations), said a scientific study was conducted before introducing the Ladies Special buses. Yet, it failed.

He explained "During the survey, the public requested for ladies special buses. We have failed to understand why this first time in India service is being underutilised by women." Prof M N Sreehari feels once the public understands the facilities offered, the number of users may increase.

4 38,275 junctions in Bangalore

4 3,000 junctions are problematic - these junctions police guard, signal or some kind of enforcement

4 300 signals are at work to control vehicular movem City

4 2,200 traffic police to regulate traffic in City

4 500 personnel on leave at any given point of time

4 500 personnel on court duty at any given point of

4 Rs 15 crore collected as fine every year from one of traffic rules violators. The remaining 99 per c free even after violating rules