Bengaluru: A simple move by the BMTC at the Baiyappanahalli Metro station in May this year has turned out to be a big success in achieving inter- modal integration. A BMTC pass counter opened at the terminal station of the Metro's purple line for commuters using its feeder bus services is receiving huge response as it is making it easier for people to make their way home after alighting from the trains.
" We started this service for Metro commuters with day and monthly passes, and especially for those who rely on feeder buses. The counter sold 475 passes in the first month. And now around 12 lakh bus passes have been sold at the Baiyappanahalli Metro station within seven months," said a senior BMTC official, revealing that most of those who have been issued the bus passes were IT employees travelling to and from offices in Tin Factory, KR Puram, Mahadevpura, Hoodi, Whitefield, Graphite India and other areas.
Presently, there are seven feeder routes of varying schedules plying from or via Baiyappanahalli station, going to Benningahalli, Tin Factory, Mahadevpura, Hoodi, Graphite India, Whitefield TTMC, Marathahalli, Kundalahalli, KR Puram, ITPL gate, Kasthurinagar, Channasandra bridge, Ramamurthynagar and more places. The frequency of the buses is about 15 to 30 minutes. Most of these feeders also go via the Swami Vivekanada Metro station, which has adequate parking space, a proper bus bay and proximity to the last station.
“These buses are doing well as opposed to other green line feeders that were curtailed due to low ridership," the official added, disclosing that similar pass or ticket counters would be opened at other Metro stations based on demand.
