BMTC’s Vol(woe)s

BMTC’s Vol(woe)s

A recent study by traffic expert Prof Sreehari reveals that there are very few takers for the BMTC’s spiffy Vajra Volvo buses

SUCHITH KIDIYOOR



Awhopping Rs 15,000 of the tax-payer’s money plus the salary of a driver-conductor duo is the amount spent by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) every day on a Vajra Volvo bus that plies from Kamakhya Theatre in Banashankari to Majestic. But the shocker is that not more than one passenger travels in this Volvo bus at any given point of time.
STARTLING REVELATIONS
This is just the starter. More such startling revelations about BMTC’s Volvo services came to light in a recent survey by traffic expert Prof M N Sreehari, who is also an advisor to the state government on traffic, transportation and infrastructure issues. What’s more, these findings come at a time when the BMTC is on a spending spree and looking to augment the Volvo fleet.
Each Volvo bus can accommodate a total of 45 passengers. The study, however, points out that the buses are not running to full capacity on several routes, with the occupancy in some buses pegged at less than 15 passengers per bus.
Sample these statistics: In Volvo buses that ply between Hope Farm and Majestic the average number of passengers per bus is 7; Majestic and K R Puram 6; and 14 for Majestic and Nelamangala. The fallout of low occupancy is visible: these air-conditioned Volvo buses have been bleeding the state exchequer of Rs 1.5 crore per month.
The BMTC is more upbeat about routes like Majestic to Bannerghatta National Park and Majestic to ITPL as the occupancy for the buses in these routes is up to 46 per cent.
The study also discloses that a majority of the passengers think it would be wise for the Vajra buses to operate in the city between 8 AM to 12 PM and 4 PM to 8 PM. Sreehari
says, “Passengers who travel in these Volvo buses think it is meaningless for the buses to operate early morning from 6 to 7 AM. A majority of the respondents also feel that the Volvos would do well if they plied during the morning and evening rush hour, when people are going to and returning from work.”
POOR RESPONSE
The study also looked into the response received by the Vayu Vajra Volvo fleet that shuttles between Bangalore International Airport (BIA) and other parts of the city. The finding: many board the Volvo buses to reach the BIA. The reasons cited for the poor response are several. As the study reveals, on an average, only 5 to 8 people in each Vayu Vajra bus to go to the international airport. Sreehari explains: “A majority of the passengers who travel to the international airport feel that these buses are unreliable, their schedules not convincing and have frequent stops till the Hebbal flyover; all of which irk them. Travellers don’t want to take any chances in getting late for any reason whatsoever. They prefer private cabs over Vayu Vajra buses.” On the other hand, air travellers opt for the buses while coming from international airport to the city. There is occupancy of 20 to 22 passengers for each bus while it comes from the international airport.
It is also learnt that Bangaloreans prefer taking Volvo buses for longer distances inside the city. As the study shows, a majority of the passengers take these buses to go to any place that is 8 kilometres or more.
Among the prominent findings, 36 per cent of the passengers felt that reliability was more important. So, while passengers are eager to travel in these cushy buses, they are not aware of their timings. Commenting on how passengers feel while waiting for the Volvo buses in bus shelters, Sreehari says: “Passengers are of the opinion that Volvo buses do not stick to the prescribed time. There are no devices to show their time table.”
WEEKEND FARES PLOY FAILS
The BMTC’s move to charge concessional rates in order to increase the occupancy rate has only made the passengers suspicious about the Corporation’s intentions. Respondents in the study felt that if the BMTC could levy minimal fares on Volvo buses during weekends, why were they not charging the same during weekdays. BMTC had introduced weekend concessional rates after the Re 1 promotional campaign in the month of September, but even that has failed to entice more commuters.
According to a BTMC official, BMTC has plans to operate more buses on the economic routes and cancel buses where they are running under a loss.