Bengaluru: The launch of full-fledged Metro Green Line service between Nagasandra and Yelachenahalli is expected to have financial consequences for KSRTC and other private bus operators, who run hundreds of long-route buses every day from various parts of the city towards Mangaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Belagavi, Tumakuru, Ballari, Hubballi and other destinations. Bus passengers now demand a cut in fares as they don’t want to end their journey at Majestic and instead want to get down at Peeny and take a Metro from Peenya or Nagasandra, which reduces their travel time.
They argue that from Nagasandra to Majestic, Metro takes just 20 minutes, while buses take a minimum of one hour even during non-peak hours. Passengers feel that it is better for them to get down from long-route buses at Nagasandra or Peenya and board a Metro, instead of travelling all the way till Majestic in buses.
Bus passengers say that since majority of them don’t complete their journey at Majestic, bus operators should reduce fares. But KSRTC and other bus operators do not have a separate fare policy and expect passengers to pay in full.
Mr Rajath Hegde, a techie and resident of Basavanagudi, said that the distance between Peenya and Basavanagudi is around 27 km and takes nearly two hours. “If bus operators charge less, every passenger can get down at Peenya and reach their destination within half-an-hour. All the bus operators should respect our sentiment,” he said.
In the Metro, the fare from Nagasandra or Peenya to Majestic is Rs 30.
But sources in the state transport department said that KSRTC and other bus operators may not agree to the demand as it translates to huge losses.
“This is a genuine demand. Why should passengers pay for the travel they never undertake? Only the government can find a solution to this,” sources said.
