Take your corporator for a ride

Take your corporator for a ride
By: Chetan R Date: 2010-04-30 Place: Bangalore




Transport Minister asks all BJP corporators to take BBMP buses with other citizens during the fourth edition of Bus Day on May 4

Don't be surprised to see your newly-elected corporator in a BMTC bus this Bus Day.

Transport Minister R Ashok, who is also the minister-in-charge of Bangalore, wants corporators of the first ever BJP-ruled BBMP to travel by bus on May 4 in order to inspire citizens to use public transport.

The fourth edition of Bus Day is powered by the MiD DAY and Radio One teams who will provide Bangaloreans the latest updates on the initiative.

"Yes, I will be asking all corporators from my party to take BMTC buses on the next Bus Day," R Ashok told MiD DAY. "They should be the ones to take the lead. I will ask them to give up their vehicles so others are inspired by their example."

BJP corporators say they are excited about participating in the Bus Day initiative.

"We welcome the Bus Day initiative. It will help make people aware of the importance of using public transport," said H Ravindra, BJP corporator and former ruling party leader.

"It will also helps us understand problems our voters face when we commute with them in BMTC buses."

The news that corporators are joining in the Bus Day effort, which has the support of civic officials, employees of IT companies, and members of residential associations, is expected to add to the number of people who use buses on the day.

BBMP officials are meanwhile busy making arrangements to ensure Bus Day, which is expected to reduce pollution and ease traffic, passes without incident.

"It's a very positive thing that public representatives are coming forward this time," said Sampangi Ramgowda, Divisional Transport Officer, BMTC.

"The response for last three editions was encouraging. We have streamlined our services further.

There are over a hundred extra buses running across the city on Bus Day. We will continue some of the services introduced on the day to other days as well."

111
The number of BJP corporators in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)

198
Total number of elected corporators in the BBMP