BMTC to add 230 more buses on grid routes

BMTC to add 230 more buses on grid routes
Vijay Times

The BMTC has decided to add 230 more buses to the existing 89 buses on grid routes so as to simplify fares and make the grid routes more popular.

Upendra Tripathi, Managing Director of BMTC, told Vijay Times, "Encouraged by the popularity of this service amongst the public, the corporation has taken this decision." Explaining the concept of grid routes, Tripathi said, "At present, a person who is travelling, for instance, towards K R Puram from Vijaynagar, has to go to the Majestic bus stand from Vijaynagar and then take another bus to K R Puram. But under the grid system, he need not come to Majestic. He can board the grid route bus to K R Puram from Kamalanagar or Sunkadakatte, which is closer to Vijaynagar," he explained.

As of now, a total of 12 grid routes have been identified. A BMTC official told Vijay Times that as many as two to three thousand buses are required to operate on all the routes. "Some other measures required are simplification of the ticketing system, terminate outskirt-bound buses at outskirt points itself and also add more feeder route buses to these ourskirt points," said the official.

Explaining the simplification of ticketing process, he said tickets purchased by passengers on the grid route buses are valid for two hours, so as to enable them to board another feeder bus to the desired destinations without paying extra.

"At present commuters have to pay extra for changing buses, which is why the grid route buses have not become as popular," the official opined.