Commuters puncture a few BMTC egos

Commuters puncture a few BMTC egos
Deccan Herald

At the first ‘grievance meet’ organised by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation, restive commuters gave BMTC officials a piece of their collective mind -- so much so, at one point, an official was interrupted in the middle ...

At the first ‘grievance meet’ organised by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation, restive commuters gave BMTC officials a piece of their collective mind -- so much so, at one point, an official was interrupted in the middle of his speech so that the commuters could really sock it to them.

The Wednesday meet, scheduled from 4 pm to 6.30, actually began at 4.30 pm. But when the commuters found to their disbelief that the BMTC officials were just reeling off their official addresses for a whole hour, they began shouting themselves hoarse, asking if officials had any intention of starting the ‘grievance meet’; one elderly man walked up on stage and started reading out his complaint.

The officials in attendance included Commuter Comfort Task Force (CCTF) Chairman Somashekar, Chief Traffic Manager (Opn) Dastagir Sharieff and CCTF Vice- President Jayshree Ravindra.

‘Cribs’ galore

Complaints poured in -- ranging from the blare of music on buses to the non-plying of some buses on a particular route. Buses stopping on the middle of the road, those making do with only one driver who doubles as conductor, etc, were among the other grievances.

Kalyan Nagar resident Ayappa said the number of buses had been reduced in many areas as buses plying two shifts are now “getting away with one”. BMTC should reconsider their plan to acquire 1000 new Volvo buses, which are not used to full capacity anyway, and instead opt for more ordinary buses, he said. Also, the BMTC needs to update its website.

There were a raft of suggestions as well. Narasimha Murthy of Old Madras Road, Ulsoor, said “every time the city is tense, buses are burned”. BMTC, he said, should put up boards at stops “indicating the cost of each bus to make the mobs realise how much of taxpayers money they are burning up”.

Residents’ welfare associations were also well-represented at the meet. Banashankari III Block Association president G Kampli said BTS buses are always overloaded, inconveniencing commuters. Worse, many a time the boards show one destination in the front of the bus and another at the back.

Mr Sharieff said there are plans to hold such meetings every month.