Ever since the launch of Metro, especially after East West Purple line was fully implemented, Bengaluru is saying 'Metro, Metro'. BMTC commuters, office bus users and many car drivers have switched over to Metro. Ridership has already touched 1.8 Lakhs on purple line.
Now with the Green Line fully opened and Phase 1 completely inagurated by Hon. President of India, even the South Bengaluru residents have also switched over to Metro and the ridership is increasing to 3.2 lakhs. Although BMRCL claims it is expecting 5 lakhs, it is not providing the necessary infrastructure to touch 5 lakhs.
Positive aspects of Metro:
1. Assured travel time between point A to point B with maximum 1 or 2 minutes here and there.
2. Reduced travel time during peak hours.
3. Airconditioned trains and few underground stations too giving better comfort.
Some of the negative aspects:
1. BMRCL not operating 6 coach trains leading to crush load during peak hours even with 4 minutes peak hour frequency providing very uncomfortable journey during peak hours.
2. BMRCL not operating trains even at 6 minutes during non peak hours, it is operating at 10 minutes frequency with 3 coach train - Becoming like BMTC - profit oriented?
3. Last mile - debatable - BMTC running lot of feeder buses, but the buses are crowded and frequency is not matching metro. Parking lots available in terminal stations, In non terminal station for 2 wheelers, some how managable, not for 4 wheelers.
Some of the key points to be noted is:
1. If your house and office (source and target) are both nearby to Metro station, you get maximum benefit out of it - (Vidhana Soudha and High Court Employees for example, if their house is also nearby Metro - they gain maximum benefit)
2. If your house is nearby Metro and office around 15 -30 mins journey or office near by and house 15- 30 mins journey from Metro station and you are travelling more than 15+ kms, you get the benefit.
Now let us keep this Metro debate aside and see what BMTC can do when its commuters are going away from trunk route Volvos:
BMTC operates its Volvos primarily to IT sector at ITPL, Outer Ring Road -Sarjapur Rd to Hebbal, Electronic City & Bannerghatta Road.
ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆಗಳು
trunk is out..
mostly that is..because bmtc still is cheaper for folks where costs matter (that is most of us)..
but yes, bmtc needs to adapt to the new reality of metro on the scene..the focus needs to get more on feeder services which reach the inner roads/areas of the localities around metro stations..
This can be done with shorter buses which can move easily on narrow streets..a good move has been made with the procurement of the new smaller busses with low floors..now its a matter of using them right..that is..
Orange colored Chakra/Samparka bus of this small type are plying aroung town now..but would say mindlessly at this point..even the shuttle routes are adhoc..something like one route connecting Mysore rd metro station to Jayanagar via Hanumanthanagar/Basavangudi..simply does not make sense..
Such half hearted implementation is bound to fail!
Its time BMTC changes their ways fast..unfortunately we are not gettign the right signals from them yet on the change needed..
feeder services - the weak link in the city commute