Bengaluru Commuter Co-operative

Dear Friends,

We all know that commuters in Bangalore are struggling with inadequate mass transport system and deteriorating traffic conditions.  We have a situation where the most important transport project like CRS is being ignored by the incompetent state government.  All our suggestions to improve BMTC fall on deaf ears.  Auto rickshaw drivers are fleecing us at every opportunity they get.  Last mile connectivity is non-existent.  Our children are traveling to schools in unsafe vans and auto rickshaws like herds of cattle.    

So what can be done as a citizen of Bangalore and commuter to change this situation? Advocacy?, campaigning? Lobbying?.  Well Praja and many other civic groups and NGOs have done that for years and the effect on the government, and so called traffic and transport ‘authorities’ is marginal at best.  Most of the time they have ignored us and carried on their incompetent ways as if we need them and they don’t need us.  The final nail in the coffin would be the CRS, which is undeniably, the most essential for Bangalore.  The Praja threads discussing CRS go way back to 2010 and three years later; all our efforts are about to go down the drain as the CRS has hit a dead end.

It is high time we take this matter in our own hands and write our own destiny.  It is time we create our own organization or ‘Authority’ or co-operative which is for the Commuters and by the commuters.  We don’t need to beg for service from anyone and we should be in a position to demand service.  We don’t need celebrities or eminent personalities to endorse us, we are our own celebrities.

It is time we realize that mere protests or advocacy does not make any difference and there is an urgent need for action.  As the corruption and incompetency are the hallmark of the present government system, there should be an alternative which can circumvent this system and protect ourselves before we all get engulfed in the polluted air and die.  

We are 30 to 50 lakh commuters strong who are religiously traveling to school, college, work or business every day in Bengaluru spending 15 to 20 % of our day commuting in such a horrific condition that it is effecting our whole day and our entire life.  Even at around Rs.500 per month average, we are spending Rs.1500 to 2000 crores on commute every year.  These numbers say everything.  We have enough people and money to make a huge difference.  

I know, you may be asking can we manage such huge organisation.  Well, think of the people who are managing our public companies and ministries. A person who can’t tell difference between 2 stroke and 4 stroke engine is heading our transport organisation and a person who can’t tell a difference between Incandescent bulb and CFL is a power minister.  When these type of people are governing us and managing our organisations, can’t we build and manage our own efficient organisation, with commuters who are Doctorates, Managers, Administrators, Technologists, entrepreneurs, BPO staff, bankers and others?.

Also, money is essential to build and manage such organisation.  But, with 50 lakh commuters, contributing 1 or 2% of their commute cost towards their own welfare is a huge amount.  Many international organisations are ready to give huge grants if we are able to reduce carbon emissions in the city.  Our own tax money earmarked for urban transportation which is being misused by government organisations can be tapped.   Once people power is there, many things are possible.

This entity preferably a co-operative would reduce the cost, time and hassle of commuting by:

1. Protecting the rights of the commuters.
2. Advocacy, lobbying and campaigning to improve the services, traffic and road conditions
3. Be part of every commuter transport service entity (BMTC, CRS, Metro, etc) in the management and board as commuter representative with authority.
4. Manage the training, eligibility and records of the commercial drivers.
5. Develop, implement and manage technology tools required to make our commute easy (like Where is my bus service, transport management, smart card/mobile transactions etc.,)
6. Establish and manage commuter support centre
7. Establish and manage last mile connectivity services
8. Establish and manage park and ride centres with amenities
9. And many more things we see the need for.

Well folks, there is no better organisation than PRAJA who can initiate this in Bangalore.  Praja has people, knowledge, and experience to make this possible.  We have a choice, either we can join together and make a real difference or we can continue and struggle in the same way and not see any change in our lifetime. 

Ashfaq