The BIAS services (Vaayu Vajras) are Bleeding! Only 1 out of every 4 busses on route Nos. 3 & 4 are even close to half full. I have seen a lot of the busses running almost empty. The return journeys seem to be faring better.
The reasons for this could be the following
· Very scattered Frequency (sometimes 1 every hour)
· Busses hardly on time (w.r.t the time displayed on the board)
· Last mile connectivity still a problem (For E.g the Cell Cab from my place takes me to the nearest bus stop – Taj Residency – then scoots and I have to wait till the next bus.
· Bus Stops are uncomfortable to wait in – uneven pavements, security and rain.
I propose a new system under which all these can be tackled.
To start with I have chosen 3 key routes. These routes linked with 335E (as mentioned earlier on Praja) can supply the whole of Bangalore with a good service to the airport. The three routes are listed below.
We currently have 60 busses. Hence each route can have 20 busses. Approximate travel time on each route is 5 hours (return) or 300 mins, hence the frequency would be (300/20) bus every 15 Mins. This is on the higher side, if traffic moved freely and turnaround time is cut it will be about 4.5 Hours return journey = a frequency of approximately 10 mins.
I have then categorized stops into “Key Stops” and “Quick Stops” . A quick stop is like an existing bus stand, where the stop is merely a board and a piece of pavement.
A “Key Stop” must have the following features
· Parking
· Taxi Stands/Auto Stand (Pre-paid booth)
· Food Shops (Optional)
· 24/7 Security
· Electronic Display boards (Yelli iddira?)
· Information Kiosks
I have tried to have the Key Stops at locations which already have these. For Example – Forum mall, Sigma mall, KBS and Malleshwaram 18th Cross. Some need to be only polished and very few have to be built from scratch. Some of these Key Stops can be inside the 5 star Hotels. Anyway hotels in Bangalore plan to do away with Airport Drop Services, this could be a workable alternative.
The feeder service (last mile connectivity) should operate only to and from Key Stops. This way if the taxi gets there about 10 mins before the bus, waiting with luggage is less of an issue.
Lastly, yes – traffic is a constraint. But as 333E demonstrates, if we have sufficient number of busses, then we can still maintain a good frequency.
I do hope BMTC re-looks at its 9 services for BIAL.
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Yes, BMTC is losing money on these
Contacts at BMTC admit that the airport services are running losses, and they are seeking ideas and suggestions to improve usage of Vayu Vajras. Please pour in your constructive and near to mid-term suggestins here and we will send those to BMTC.
Narayan - I would add synchronizing Vaayu Vajra times with all existing regular BMTC Volve routes. And if BMTC can offer single ticket to the airport (ex for me take 335E to HAL airport, then take BIAS-4 from there, say for Rs 175 or 200, or using 335E to Leela palace and your suggested route #2).
You probably are missing out east/suth easter sub-rubs. Another route from Sarjapur road area or HSR layout area (from silk board?) running via Outer ring Road may add.
Vajra's and Last mile connectivity
SB, as you rightly pointed out BIAS has to be synchornized with other volvos. But with the traffic levels, getting a bus to arrive on time is very hard. Hence, instead of synchronizing timings, have a bus every 10 mins! Hence maximum waiting time is 9 mins - can live with that.
As you rightly said about connecting services, and taking it forward - Tickets for BIAS should be available on ANY BMTC bus. Hence from anywhere in Bangalore, in theory, you should be able to get a Vajra/Suvarna/MBS/Normal Bus to the nearest BIAS bus stop and onwards on a single ticket. the same on return journeys.
About areas which aren't covered right now: I tried to have the routes in an way that traffic is least encountered. Hence not too many diversions. This will keep travel time shorter and frequency higher.
This is where I feel the Cell Cabs and SGL come into play. if they can drop you to the nearest "Key Stop" for Rs.100/- and get you a 25% off on the BIAS it can do the job. In fact SGL/Cell Cabs should guarantee that they put you on a BIAS Bus and not vanish after dropping under a signboard! I will never have a bus stop at my doorstep, but for 100 rs I would be happy to engage someone who guarantees me a bus!
As BIAS bus service is increased more routes can be added. Also I have planned the map with my knowledge only. Some statistics on air travellers and where they stay would enhance it lot more. Maybe we need to re-work the routes completely.
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
Create a hub at Hebbal
I doubt if it is even half filled. Many times I have seen these buses with just one or two passengers. They should be facing a hemorrhage –
• A possible solution would be to create a hub near Hebbal (BMTC has a depot just next to the flyover and also below the flyover there is ample vacant land).
• Have a dedicated bus system between the airport and this hub. Even in the worst case scenario it takes one hour to reach the airport from Hebbal. We could have a bus leaving from each end every 15 mins. For that 8 buses will be needed (+2 as a buffer).
• Then connect this hub at Hebbal to all places in Bangalore with the remaining 50 Volvo buses along with the other Volvo buses.
• These Volvo buses need not be dedicated only for airport passengers.
• Instead it could be integrated with the city transport – basically that implies that anyone can use this (I have tried getting into the Vaju Vajras to travel locally and they just refuse to let in non airport passengers).
• Even with the current configuration on the Volvo buses (non BIAS buses) there is ample space for luggage at the center of the bus. The luggage carriers on these BIAS buses could be replaced with seats. The conductors of the Volvo buses could be trained to help airport passengers with their luggage.
• This way the frequency of Volvo buses within the city will also increase and more people will use this facility - reducing losses for BMTC.
• One of the drawbacks would be - changing buses at Hebbal. But with a well designed bus station this problem can be minimized.
• Also this “may” lead to more travel time.
Increase frequency and ticket charge
Hi,
Synchronizing buses, though a good idea, will not be realizable/implementable given Bangalore traffic conditions. Only way to promote bus usage is to increase frequency and routes. I feel that if there is increased frequency and conveneint routes users wouldn't mind paying more - for example, existing Rs 150 from Whitefield to BIAL is really cheap!
If one has to change buses in between - especially if one has more than one luggage/bag as generally the case with international travellers - it may not go well with many users.
If BMTC can sustain BIAS (with return trips fetching good revenue) with some increase in ticket charges, it will be great.
Re:Rithesh
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
Suggestion for BMTC / Vayu Vajra to prevent revenue loss
one simple suggestion would be to allow good / qulaity electronic advertsiements by Hotels, IT companies, taxi cab companies etc. inside buses, for a fee / payment.
this way the companies can increase their sales and BMTC can avoid loss and generate profits
Srinath Heragu
Suggestion to silkboard & narayan82 to prevent loss of BMTC
This suggestion may be sent to BMTC to prevent their revenue loss due to Vayu Vajra
one simple solution would be to allow good / qulaity electronic advertsiements by Hotels, IT companies, taxi cab companies etc. inside buses, for a fee / payment.
this way the companies can increase their sales and BMTC can avoid loss and generate profits
if this is a viable suggestion, this suggestion can be sent to BMTC
Srinath Heragu
BIAS routes info
Its heartening to see a lot of folks considering bus travel these days - I guess primarily because of the BIAL being as far as it is. Hope this starts a habit.
However, I do think a lot of folks "postpone" the take-the-bus decision cause of uncertainty about schedules etc. This might sound like a plug, but this info can be found on the mobile phone now on http://zook.in or by sending a query to 57575665. Queries could be "late night jayanagar bias" or "koramangala afternoon bus to bial", etc. The SMS interface is still being tweaked, but I hope its helpful in more people finding out more about the BIAS service, and taking them more often.
Sameer, Bangalore
http://zook.in
- Sameer, Bangalore
http://linger.in
Re: SSheragu
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
Re: narayan82
The way you have put it, I guess it makes sense not have a hub at Hebbal which is far off from most places in Bengaluru. Point taken.
One suggestion for your model though – the Electronic City and Whitefield area are a bit under represented. You could also propose a route from Airport to Whitefield Area via NH-207 and then further to Electronic City. Not very sure of the passengers originating from these two areas, but it should be significant considering the IT establishments along this route.
Airport – NH207 – Whitefield Area (Hope Farm, ITPB, Mahadevpura, Kundanahalli jn) – Marathahalli – Outer ring road – Srajapur ju – CSB flyover – Hosur Road – Electronic City.
Electronic City to Airport
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
Routing is a function of demand points
I really don't know how much input has gone into the routing in terms of where the demand is.
BMTC has a limited number of Volvo buses. It has to deploy them so that most buses run at 75% CU (75% being an arbitrary number). This will enable sustainability of this operation (commercial objective) and keep cars off the road (social objective)
Given that BMTC has about 40-45 VV buses, it is not feasible to serve every part of the city with a good frequency.
Let us say we have to work with this sort of number - (40-45) for the next 9-12 months. Let us assume that the average round trip time is about 4 hrs (1.45 journey +15 min break +1.45 hr journey +15 min break). Let us say that to attract passengers we need to have buses every 30 mins. That means we need to have 8 buses on every route on the average. Which means a max of 5 routes for VV vs. current 9 routes.
Which 5 routes? We need to find starting points that enable non-chaotic operations and have a hinterland for demand.
a. Old Airport (still has parking facilities) seems one option. It has parking for buses, parking for cars. It can serve Domlur, Indiranagar, Brooke Fields (?), Ulsoor Lake area, Benson Town, etc.
b. Shantinagar - has good parking facilities, place for people to wait. It can serve Koramangala, Jayanagar, Basavanagudi, Richmond Town, Shantinagar. Route will be the current route.
c. City Railway Station - important as a link for tourists who want to do the local circuit. Route can be Ananda Rao Circle, RC Road and then to Hebbal. Can also serve Rajaji Nagar, Vijayanagar.
d. E-City - via Silkboard, MG Road vs. Ring Road. Expect this to go empty from E-city more often than not and price that in. Routing it via the city will help in loading it along the way.
Bus timings at intermediate stops have to be adhered to, especially during non-peak hours when transit times are shorter. I think BMTC will have to have different route timings for early morning, late night and different for peak hours. That way, if I land up in Shantinagar at 5:00 a.m., the bus should not have arrived and left at 4:30 a.m. It leaves me nowhere.
Reliability is the key. Demand is there. I just need to know that when I reach a bus stop, I will get a bus within +/- 5 minutes of the scheduled time.
The Suvarnas can be used as feeder services. They need to come in 15 mins before the departure of a VV. Rather than Suvarnas they could use Swaraj Mazdas.
International traffic might not be a big user of VVs. People might have more luggage than they would be happy to lug around after getting off the VV.
Understanding user needs is the key.
Srivathsa
d.
Drive safe. It is not just the car maker which can recall its product.
Srivatsa
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
reply to narayan82 (regrding revenue generation for BMTC)
your observation is right; if there are no passengers, there will not be anyone to pay as there will not be anyone to see the advertisement;
but a begining can be made and it can be given a try; initially BMTC can offer on reduced rates or on a free basis; once the revenue of the advertisers pick up or after some time of a few months, BMTC can start charging suffficiently to earn revenue
Srinath Heragu
RE: Srinath
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
revenue generation for BMTC
narayan82
I am once again in full agreement wih you.
As you have rightly stated bus stops can be leased to companies (IT, hotels, cab agencies, etc) for maintenance, cleanliness and advertisements. The money generated out of this can be the profits of BMTC. In fact the bus stop at BIAL and the bus stops on BIAL routes can be leased at a higher rate to companies. I also agree noisy ads can be kept out. Subsequently, if required, these advertisements can find their place inside BMTC (Vayu Vajra) buses.
Now that we have discussed sufficiently on this and that generally praja is in agreement, praja admin can send this suggestion immediately to BMTC for implementation for profit making.
Srinath Heragu
Vayu Vajra is maintaining time...
Living in J P Nagar I Phase, I keep an eye out for the BIAS service, and most of the times I see the bus near my home or near RV Dental colleage around 5 to 10 minutes past the hour. The departure from J P Nagar 6th phase is supposed to be at 55 minutes past the hour or at the hour. I was joking to my wife the other day that it is almost as though one could set the watch by seeing these buses... that is taking it a bit too far.
Yes, they are bleeding. Most of the times, the buses have only 2 or maybe 3 passengers... at least in JP Nagar I Phase.
BMTC seems to have decided that they do not want passengers hopping in and out of the bus at interim locations. I can understand this logic, if the service was being patronised by a number of airport bound passengers, and passengers hopping in and out is certainly a worry, but why apply this logic to an empty bus? Why not provide the conductor and the driver some broad guidelines, and the decision-making power on when to take on passengers for shorter distances?
What broad guidelines? Like - no standing passengers; picking up passengers only at designated points (to ensure timeliness of the service for the airport bound passengers); volvo service ticket pricing, not the vayu vajra pricing.
Midway Journeys
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
Has immense potential
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
VV Hub Stations
I had suggested to BMTC a concept of 3 hub stations that already have the needed infrastructure in terms of building, security, and parking place for taxis / private cars.
KBS/MCTC, Shanthinagar and HAL Airport.
The idea is to increase the frequency to these 3 hubs, and then use feeder services to connect to the various localities using regular Vajra. VV passengers in any case will be expecting to make one change. A hub will be more convenient.
All have very rightly pointed out that mapping of traffic demand is important. Like it or not, bulk of air passengers still generate from the Southern (JP Nagar eastwards) and Eastern part of the city.
One small observation in Narayan's route map. It is very difficult to get a bus from Koramangala to go to Leela and then come back to connect to Indiranagar 100ft road. Some other bus stop will have to be planned. Domlur is also not viable due to the U turns involved on airport road. A stop on the IRR or Indiranagar 100ft road is also not viable for 333E.
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Regards
Devesh R. Agarwal
Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com
Regards
Devesh
Bangalore Aviation
Enjoy life, destroy FUD
Few high frequency routes + NH7 congestion charge?
Specifics of the routes need stats based detailing. For example - would need another route from west bangalore, or east route can start at HAL, using space there as a mini-hub.
Leave aside the details. The theme of all this is - shorten it from current 9 routes to around 4, thus having few high frequency services (20-25 minutes is good enough). Leave the catchment area funneling job to cabs or shuttles. Single ticket arrangement with cabs (1 ticket to airport from anywhere) will be nice, but not mandatory.
Next, single passenger cabs (folks who didn't take the pain of using the bus) could pay for their ignorance. How about an NH7 congestion charge of say Rs 100 per 'single passenger' cab? One should get a bus every 10 minutes from near Hebbal. If BMTC can build a nice waiting hub in the region, nobody would have the excuse that congestion charge is unfair. Assuming a conservative 500 'single passenger' cabs per day, we are talking 50000 x 30 = 15 lakhs a month. Not a lot, but this could fund pedestrian underpasses for NH7 plus upkeep of BIAS route bus-stands.
Good Idea SB
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
Re-worked map
Devesh, your point about Koramangala and Indira Nagar not being well connected is a valid one. I have re worked the map to allow a 4th Bus route from HAL airport and attacking the surrounding Areas. Please see the Image below the route is As follows:
KGA/Royal Orchid Hotel > Leela Palace > HAL Airport > Jeevan Bhima Nagar > Old Madras Road > K R Puram > Ring Road (I am not sure of locations here) and then to BIAL via Hennur Cros (avoiding more busses on NH7)
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
333E or 335E?
Little confused, are you mixing 333E and 335E. 335E is the high frequency and (looks to be) successful Volvo.
Coming to BIAL routes, BMTC should look at BIAL as a TTMC, nothing more. Going back to our concept of fast and limited-stop TTMC to TTMC connectivity, if we follow that approach, airport gets covered. Only thing special would be that buses running to BIAL TTMC would require luggage racks. But rest of the concepts remain the same.
335 it is
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
2 More services
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
PBNagar - Constituency of Transport Minister
PBNagar - Constituency of R Ashok, transport minister. So is this move!!
he could have done better
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
Vaayu Vajra Information Board/Map within the Airport Terminal
As you come out from the baggage retrieval area, there are dozens of signs for taxis and hotels etc., but not a single sign within the Airport Terminal telling you about the Volvo bus service.
Ideally, there should be an electronic board indicating the time and route of the next few departures, with perhaps a large image of the very attractive buses as a visual cue . Even better would be to have a manned desk to guide passengers on which bus to take.
At the very least, the large route map that is displayed at the bus shelter should also be there within the terminal to help guide passengers.
These simple step would help boost the usage of the bus service greatly on the airport to city leg.
BIAL and BMTC to cooperate and increase Vayu Vajra visibility
Sorry to do this, but due to time constraints.
BIAL and BMTC to cooperate and increase Vayu Vajra visibility
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Regards
Devesh R. Agarwal
Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com
Regards
Devesh
Bangalore Aviation
Enjoy life, destroy FUD
VV