Marcopolos to be back on city

Marcopolos to be back on city

This time, the BMTC does not want to repeat the mistakes made last year. While they are still working on the fares and new routes, commuters are more bothered about the frequency and comforts they provide, Shwetha S reports

Shwetha S

Very soon, Marcopolo buses will be back on the city roads. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is planning to reintroduce these buses using the funds of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Last year, Tata had introduced Marcopolo buses on a three-month trial but the buses were withdrawn due to technical problems and poor public response.
The Centre has approved thousand more hi-tech buses to BMTC under the JNNURM.
"Hundred Marcopolo buses will be reintroduced. 200 Volvo buses and 250 non-AC Tata and Leyland buses will also be inducted," said Mukkanna, BMTC's chief mechanical manager.
The BMTC wants to popularise Marcopolos without repeating last year's errors. The bus routes of Marcopolo and Volvo won't clash.
"We've not decided on the fares for the Marcopolo buses yet. We're still in the process of experimenting routes of Volvo buses as its present routes are not receiving good public response. Once we fix the routes of Volvo buses, we'll think about marcopolo buses," K Vishwanath, chief traffic manager, official said.
The 100 Marcopolo buses would be designed by Tata.
"The bus will be unque in colour and design. The colour will be blue and dark orange to catch the eye of the passengers," Mukkanna said.
The seating system in Marcopolos will be different from that of Volvo.
"We are sceptical on how it is going to work once 100 Marcopolo buses and 200 Volvo buses are introduced. The response for the Volvo bus is still not satisfactory. The current routes of the Volvo buses have to revised. The fares of the Volvo bus and Marcopolo bus will be almost similar. Hence, we don't know whether Marcopolo bus will be successful," Vishwanath said.
"It does not make a difference to us whether it is Volvo or Marcopolo. My only concern is better frequency and comfort in travel as we will be paying higher fares. If BMTC is introducing more buses in two months, they should extend the services to more areas," said Vasanth Madhav, a commuter. s_shwetha@dnaindia.net

TRIAL fails: Last year, Tata had introduced Marcopolo buses on a three-month trial but the buses were withdrawn due to technical problems and poor public response