Vayu Vajras here to stay

Vayu Vajras here to stay
Even though luxury hotels in the city are not too keen on a dedicated bus service to the airport, BMTC is aligning BIA service routes to draw maximum benefit
R Krishnakumar | TNN

Bangalore: The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s plan to operate dedicated buses between the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) and luxury hotels in the city has turned out to be a non-starter. The corporation had proposed the service much before the airport was commissioned. According to BMTC officials, the plan has received lukewarm response from hotels.
“We’ve had three meetings with hotel proprietors in this connection but nothing has come of them,’’ says Dastagir Sharieff, chief traffic manager (operations), BMTC. While it’s learnt that hotel group representatives raised apprehensions over issues like frequency of service, BMTC has moved on and is targeting customers by getting closer to hotels. “Almost all BIA service routes are now aligned close to prominent hotels. We are encouraging these hotels to go for reservation on the buses so passengers can get on board from the nearest stop,’’ says Sharieff.
The BMTC runs about 50 Vayu Vajras on its Bengaluru International Airport Service (BIAS) routes from different points in the city. Though there is no formal arrangement, a good number of passengers avail the service from the airport to stops near the hotels. Since BIAS buses stop at points close to most of these hotels, the reach is, by and large, assured.
Though the idea of dedicated services hasn’t taken off, hotel groups are open to having their locations double up as stop points. “We have welcomed the move by the transport authority to keep luxury hotels as designated stop points to and from the new airport. The luxury Volvo buses that ply on these routes are very upscale and high-end, and are in line with the image and brand values of a five-star hotel,’’ said Mohan Kumar, chairman, tourism committee of BCIC and GM, Taj Properties, Bangalore. Taj Residency is already a stop point for the Volvo buses plying on the airport-MG Road route.
Cabs on course
BMTC already has a tie-up with cab operators on the first- and last-mile connectivity to BIA. It’s estimated that 150 to 180 passengers avail the service every day. Officials support claims of high public acceptance rates by pointing out that reservation is on even for October and November.