Bengaluru: The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), which recently withdrew some of the feeder services to Metro Rail stations, is ready to purchase 3,000 new buses to meet the demand from commuters for feeder and other services across the city.
Mr Arun Kumar, a Metro train commuter, said, “Most of the Metro stations in the city do not have proper direct buses from nearby areas. The residents staying in Nagarbhavi and areas around Outer Ring Road find it difficult to reach the Mysore Road Metro Station. They have to change two buses, which are not regular, to get to the station. Many people take their vehicles to the station, park them and then board Metro trains. To help those who don’t have their own vehicles, the BMTC should plan good feeder services.”
The BMTC argues that it had to cancel feeder services, especially in South Bengaluru, as the buses were not generating even '10 per km. The corporation has now decided to increase the frequency where there is demand and reduce it where there is less passenger flow.
BMTC sources told Deccan Chronicle that earlier, 197 feeder bus services ran 3,000 trips. Some feeder services from Vijayanagar, Magadi Road, Banashankari, Jayanagar and RV Road have been withdrawn and diverted to other routes.
A BMTC senior official said, “The corporation will buy new buses over the next few days, but we have still not decided to increase Metro feeder buses. If Metro commuters are finding it difficult to reach stations, then they have to submit a request letter to the corporation. Based on that, we will act accordingly.”
BMTC is planning to purchase 3,158 new buses which also include 1, 035 normal buses and 151 A/C buses.
