Better facilities for private run buses!

There is no denial that private bus service is being operated in Bengaluru and other places without having its own/leased infrastructure like Terminus or bus stops. As noted in the Imran_haq's ordeal in Kalasipalya, in absence of proper infrastructure, these buses are making use of the public spaces like Roads, gullys, playgrounds even making use of no parking spaces. One can imagine the chaos it creates where these buses picks/drops passengers.

Bus service is one service which needs or raises demand for the supporting infrastructure like place to park for long hours, passenger pickup points, connecting service amenities like parking, drop/pickup from auto/taxi/BMTC, space for loading and unloading parcels etc. Amenities and infrastructure for KSRTC is no different than what exists for private ones except for it has a place for parking at depots and proper bus stop to pickup/drop passengers. But carefully looked at the existing infrastructure, one easily be convinced to say it needs MORE.

Since govt has turned a blind eye to the need of the supporting infrastructure, these bus operators both govt and private are making use of the what ever they can they lay their hands on. Irony is govt doesn't even ask the private operator while issuing the permit to run the service if it has the access to proper infrastructure or not. Lets not get into the whole business of corruption in obtaining a permit for bus service.

So the question is what needs to be done? In a simplistic answer, we can say there should be proper infrastructure supporting the operations of bus service whether by private operators or govt run corporations. In the other thread there was suggestion for 2 models. One to create desperate infrastructure for the private buses. Other suggestion was to integrate with the KSRTC infrastructure.

After giving some thoughts to both suggestions and talking to IDS, I am more inclined towards for creating single infrastructure for both private and public services. Added to that, this problem is not unique to Bengaluru only. It is the same story in Mysore, Hasan, Davangere, Belgaum, Hubli, Mangalore etc. Therefore I have decided to approach it from statewide plan to provide the amenities that would cater to both passengers as well as the operators. This will be an initial attempt to lay down some proposals in simple and basic format addressing the various issues of much needed infrastructure. You all are welcome to suggest, critique and trash the proposals.

For the simplicity let me list the items for Bengaluru first and then we can extrapolate for other cities/towns and statewide:

• For Passengers

1. Make use of the existing KSRTC bus stations at Shantinagar, Mysore Road, Hebbal and other planned locations
2. Upgrade the existing Bus stations with basic amenities like restrooms, Cloak rooms, Waiting halls, Food Stalls
3. Provide integration amenities for easy transfer to local/private transport options
4. Provide parking and Pickup/drop off amenities.
5. Provide facilities for booking/receiving the parcels
6. Designate Small number of bus stops along the route for Pickup/Drop off.
7. Ticket/Inquiry Kiosks at the bus stations

• For Private Operators
  

1. Allow private operators to make use of the KSRTC facilities for parking, maintenance and passenger pickup/drop-off
2. Charge the reasonable/actual cost for the use of facilities and amenities. Could collect the additional fees along with the permit or registration fees.
3. Restrict them to pickup/drop-off from the designated places only in the city.
4. Penalize the offenders with seizure and cancellation of the permits.

There is more to the list but I will stop here and solicits the suggestion from all of you. Feel free to provide your suggestions and solutions. I am sure at the end of the exercise, we would be in a position to convert it into a proposal and submit it to the Karnataka Transport Secretary and KSRTC MD.