Malls a hop, skip away

Malls a hop, skip away
Bengaluru,







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Bengaluru will soon get a dedicated bus service to give people a smooth and comfortable ride to malls and upmarket shops without the hassle of finding parking space for their cars. The services, to be known as HOHO, will also cut down the cost of travelling to these places, says Srinivasa M.
: Bengaluru is going the Singapore way by introducing an airconditioned Volvo bus service to its Central Business District, giving people an easy ride to the malls and upmarket streets lined with shops which are located here. The Kendra Saarige bus service, also called the HOHO service, as it will allow passengers to hop on and hop off the buses taking a circular route round the city, starts Tuesday.

The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transportation Corporation (BMTC) hopes the service, modelled not just on the Singapore bus services, but also on those in London city, will keep two-wheelers off the roads with people opting to leave them home in preference for the new public transport.

According to a survey carried out by the BMTC recently, the ratio of two-wheelers to buses is 80:20 among 18 to 20 year-old commuters. Two wheelers, cars and auto are apparently popular with youth because they provide them door to door transportation, flexibility of route, and do not require them to wait endlessly at bus stops. BMTC has tried to incorporate these advantages in its new service, which is thought to be the first of its kind in the country, to make it inviting to all age groups.

Says traffic expert and ABIDe planner R K Mishra, “The bus service is similar to those in London and Singapore. Until now there has been no direct bus connectivity to the CBD from areas like ITPL, forcing people to use two-wheelers or cars to get there. Under the HOHO circular service, Volvo buses will take commuters from different parts of the city to whichever destination they have in mind and in comfort. The fares will be affordable. A HOHO service providing door to door bus connectivity is quite common around th world.” The service is being introduced on the recommendation of the Agenda for Bengaluru Infrastructure and Development Task Force (ABIDe). In its 44 page report on roads, traffic management and transportation submitted to the state government recently, ABIDe suggested that the HOHO circular service be introduced both in clockwise and anti-clockwise directions in the CBD areas.

It has suggested that the HOHO circular service run clockwise between St. Joseph's Business College and Taj Residency, covering Hosmat Hospital, Mayo Hall, KSCA, Dickenson Road and Begam Mahal Circle and anti-clockwise between The Oberoi Hotel and Trinity Circle, covering the Anil Kumble Circle and Hudson Circle. This, it is hoped, will provide malls and popular hangouts in the CBD areas a convenient bus facility, which they have not had until now for a variety of reasons, including traffic restrictions placed by the police.

Most days the roads around them are heavy with two wheelers, autos and cars, particularly on the weekends as shoppers drive to reach them. This could now all change if people take to the HOHO service in a big way.