Cut in Volvo bus fares contemplated

Cut in Volvo bus fares contemplated
Bangalore, DH News Service:
Friday, May 15, 2009, 12:00 [IST]

The Transport department is coming out with common passes for commuters of BMTC and KSRTC within 60 km radius around Bangalore City.


The new passes will be issued from May 19. Price for the passes will be announced on that day. Transport Minister R Ashok said that the scheme would be helpful for those who commute to Bangalore from nearby areas regularly. Commuters from Channapatna, Ramanagara, Hoskote, Doddaballapur, Chikkaballapur, Magadi and other areas around the City would be benefited.

Asked on price of new passes, the minister said, he would announce the price on May 19, the day when the issuing of passes would start.

Common passess

“At present, the commuters purchase separate passes for KSRTC and BMTC buses. Once the new system is launched, they save money and they are also freed of the burden of buying two passes,” he said. After the metro rail starts its service in the City, the minister said, the department would issue common passes for BMTC, KSRTC and metro rails, as well.

Ashok said that the BMTC would introduce 800 more ordinary buses in Bangalore City. The Corporation had started the tender process to purchase new buses. The minister said that the department was contemplating reduction in fare of Volvo buses in Bangalore.

The department would announce the new prices soon. “But we are yet to decide by how much the rates will be slashed,” he said.

Besides, the department would introduce Volvo bus services in Mysore and Mangalore. Thirty new buses would ply on the roads of Mysore. The department had decided to ply volvo bus between Mangalore and Manipal.

Ashok said that the bus service will be the first step to break the private bus monopoly on th route.

“Private buses have been plying on the route. In order to curb them, the department has decided to introduce volvo buses. The service will start as soon as the Mangalore deputy commissioner grants permission,” he said.