Autos to be link to BIA

Autos to be link to BIA


Bengaluru June 9: After getting the green signal for setting up 45 traffic transit management centres (TTMC) and the success of the Volvo services to Bengaluru International Airport, the BMTC is now contemplating the introduction of an ‘Auto Connect’ scheme where passengers will be picked up from their homes and dropped to the nearest TTMC.

The project has been mooted to encourage the use of public transport in the city.
The department plans to rope in 10,000 autorickshaws to pick up passengers and drop them at the nearest Volvo bus stop at present. The scheme will later be extended to the nearest TTMC. These autorickshaws will be GPS enabled and will also issue tickets.
This scheme will be launched after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with auto unions to create an integrated phone line where commuters can call and make bookings.

“On a single ticket, an auto will pick up commuters from their doorstep and ferry them to the nearest bus stop where they can board our buses. Just like taxis, autos will have a Global Positioning System (GPS) to facilitate easy coordination,” said Mr Upendra Tripathi, Managing Director, BMTC. For example, if someone wants to reach a TTMC in Koramangala, he can dial the call centre number and leave the address from where he/she needs to be picked. The autorickshaws will come to the caller’s residence and pick up the passenger, issue a ticket and drop the passenger at the bus stop.

“This ticket will also hold good as the ticket for the bus. One doesn’t have to shell out extra money for this service. This fare will include the bus fare too and will differ from one area to another,” said a senior officer at BMTC. Explaining how the scheme works, the officer said, this service will benefit passengers in many ways. Many times the auto drivers refuse to ferry passengers to short distances. It is here that the ‘auto connect’ will help. Also, this service will be more citizen-friendly with GPS and the drivers will have police verification certificates, to avoid any untoward incidents.

The scheme will also be helpful for senior citizens who might not be able to walk short distances, the officer added. However, Mr Somashekar, president, Bangalore Auto Union said the BMTC has not approached him and blamed the BMTC for coming up with such schemes only to make money. “We are here to serve the people but the BMTC’s new scheme is designed to promote their autorickshaws and ban the regular autos,” he said.