Use satellite bus stands, B’lore police directs KSRTC

Use satellite bus stands, B’lore police directs KSRTC
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The City Police have made a few suggestions to the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to decongest the Subhashnagar (Majestic) and surrounding areas during festival seasons. They want KSRTC and other State buses to operate from satellite bus stations during special occasions.

DCP Traffic (West) Ramasubba said, the State-run road corporations operate 1200-2000 extra buses on occasions like Deepavali, Dasara etc, when a large number of people prefer to spend their long holidays outside Bangalore.

With buses leaving the Kempe Gowda bus-stand between 7 p m and 11 p m, it creates traffic snarls all over the place and, often, gird-locks.

For instance, simultaneous leaving of buses causes traffic jam from Majestic area up to Hudson Circle via Ananda Rao Circle, Seshadri Road, KR Circle and Nrupathunga Road, and also in Malleswaram area. It also delays the effective departure of these buses.

The City Police have suggested that the KSRTC designate some pick-up points en route and ask its passengers to indicate where they would like to board the bus.

The KSRTC, Ramasubba says, should ideally commence its buses from Mysore Road Station for Mysore sector, from Shanthinagar Terminus for Tamil Nadu sector and from Jakkarayanakere Grounds for Hassan-Tumkur sector. It can, however, retain some services for ‘unreserved’ passengers.

The Kempe Gowda bus station has 25 parking lots that can accommodate about 125 buses. Besides, there are about 400-500 buses parked all through the day at the bus-stand as they arrive in the morning and leave only at night. By moving regular services away on special occasions, the KSRTC can decongest the City in a big way.

Bulk of the congestion comes from KSRTC buses during festival season. The congestion was not much from private buses as they have several pick-up points in the City, the DCP says.