Say no to cars, bikes on April 7

Say no to cars, bikes on April 7
A T Subrahmanya | TNN

Bangalore: The third Bus Day, one of BMTC’s successful campaigns urging people to commute by public transport, will be observed on April 7 (Wednesday) instead of the usual 4th of every month. The change is because April 4 is a Sunday and April 5 is BBMP poll counting day. This time, buses will be deployed in five corridors.
The last two Bus Days in February and March received a positive response with NGOs and MNCs supporting the cause. The campaign also encouraged the use of company buses and employees of tech majors like Wipro and Infosys bussed to their campuses in large numbers.
This time, the campaign will focus on five corridors; Bannerghatta Road, Hosur Road, Sarjapur Road, Old Airport Road to ITPB and Old Madras Road. BMTC met with several NGOs and associations on Thursday and representatives of tech companies chipped in with their inputs on scope and schedules for April 7.
BMTC officials say there are nearly 35 lakh vehicles in the city of which 50% are twowheelers and nearly 20% are four-wheelers in comparison. There are 6,000 public transport buses and 3,000 private ones. Using public transport once in a month will help unclog traffic jams and the environment. During the previous Bus Days, several companies actively participated by sending email to their employees about the programme.
BMTC MD Syed Zameer Pasha said it there would be regular BMTC bus services along that routes during Bus Day and an additional 100 to 150 buses on the designated corridors. There will be fleet upgradation and BMTC has a dedicated web site (www.bmtctravelinfo.in) for Bus Days where people can check information such as routes and maps.
BMTC has set up five teams headed by senior officers to handle the five corridors. Feedback from the earlier Bus Days is being incorporated with moves such as introducing Whitefield Sarige and a shuttle service connecting all five corridors.
Pasha insists the sustained effort will not only help improve the air quality but also reduce travel time for commuters.
Chock-a-block
There are nearly 35 lakh vehicles in the city of which 50% are two-wheelers and nearly 20% are four-wheelers
There are 6,000 public transport buses and 3,000 private ones