Double-deckers to make a comeback?

Double-deckers to make a comeback?

Deepa Bhasthi | TNN


Bangalore: If you were a child in the early 1990s in a quieter Bangalore, treats and a day out would have invariably included a ride in double-decker buses, with everyone racing to grab the best seats at the front of the top deck.
Over time, these buses were phased out but Bangaloreans didn’t seem to notice; they were probably too busy riding the IT boom and flocking to malls. Now, the BMTC wants to bring them back on select routes, mainly to reduce traffic congestion. After an educational tour to Europe to study transportation systems, public transport corporations have been mulling over several new initiatives, including bringing back double-deckers.
BMTC MD Syed Zameer Pasha told STOI that though the idea was good, things are not yet too favourable. Before bifurcation of the transport corporation into KSRTC and BMTC in 1997, doubledeckers were operated by KSRTC. Under the then BTS wing, there were 84 double-deckers, of which 52 were of the articulated type, the rest composite. The BMTC has retained one bus for city tours for tourists.
Pasha said these buses were phased out and later scrapped because traffic had increased and the roads were no longer wide enough. The plan is still in its nascent stages for that very reason — the roads are too narrow, tree trunks on the sides and streetlights are a major hazard as they restricting movement of the buses.
A few years ago, a private company introduced hop-on hop-off service on double-deckers. That did not take off due to these constraints.
NOW ON THE RING ROADS?
The BMTC is mulling introducing them along ring roads, which are wider and free of trees. BMTC is also considering more vestibule buses. The corporation already has 106, which are 16 metres long. “Along the outer ring roads, the length of these can be increased up to 24 metres,” he added.