Bengaluru: The city could see the return of the double decker bus, which though popular in the seventies and eighties, was phased out after one toppled over in Gandhibazaar.
But with years having passed since the accident, transport minister, Ramalinga Reddy, believes it's time to reintroduce them and has suggested the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) add at least four double deckers to its fleet.
His reasoning ? The buses could be used for hop-on and hop-off tours of the city, giving tourists a treat and adding to the brand image of the transport corporation.
"I have suggested the corporation buy four such buses as they can be used for the hop -on hop -off tours of the city, making them more appealing to tourists. Several cities abroad still have these iconic buses , which can give a touch of history to city tourism," he explains. The minister also thinks the buses can be used for fun activities for children. "So these buses can serve multiple purposes, and besides boosting revenue, could add to the brand image of the BMTC," he adds.
The idea has received the thumbs up from some urban experts, who point out that Kolkata has these double decker buses, which are now one of its major attractions. "In February 2016 the West
Bengal government re-introduced these buses that are now used to offer fun rides for tourists in Kolkata. Re-introducing the double decker bus in Bengaluru too is a good idea," says Ms Sunitha K Rau, a consultant with a private tourism agency. In her view the buses could draw more domestic and foreign tourists to the city and help the BMTC improve its revenue.
