BMTC to increase night buses due to high demand

Nishchit N | NT

Bengaluru: After a year and a half, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) resumed its night services, as the state government lifted the night curfew. Seventy buses operated at night, operating on 48 routes across the city. Now, due to high demand, the Corporation is planning to increase the number of buses.

Considering the dip in the number of COVID-19 cases, on November 6, the State Government lifted the night curfew imposed between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., paving the way for BMTC to extend its services. In pre-COVID-19 times, the Corporation used to operate 130 plus buses as part of its night services.

A BMTC official said, “After one and half years the night services were re-started with 70 buses in 48 different routes. Since we received a very good response from commuters, we will now increase the number which is a good sign.”

The night buses are popular with people working in hotels, malls, and restaurants as well as those who cover the night shifts. As per schedules, the buses are now operating on prominent routes from Majestic and other points. Although the BMTC charges one-and-a-half times the day time rate, the demand has continued to rise. A recent study conducted by the Corporation of commuter statistics during the peak hours and the night hours showed higher footfall for late buses, compared with earlier. Patronage for city buses has been gradually increasing after the night curfew was lifted, from 1.86 crore per day to over 2.90 crore.

“I work in BTM layout and live in Kumarswamy layout. It is very helpful for me to use this BMTC service – it is a safe option even at 1.30 am. Also, one of my elder sisters came from Davangere in the early hours and it was very useful for her to get into the bus at Goraguntepalya. I hope the Corporation will increase the number of buses and frequency” says Suprith, a private firm employee and regular BMTC commuter.

BMTC runs close to 5,200 buses every day and between 21 and 22 lakh people use them every day, on average. “Patronage is increasing gradually. However, we are yet to reach pre-lockdown time ridership. Due to work from home and other factors, people are yet to travel in large numbers. During pre-COVID-19 times, we had an average daily ridership of 35 lakh,” an official said. Also, the Corporation plans to increase the bus services to Bengaluru International Airport from Kempegowda bus station, Mysore Road bus satellite station, Magadi Road as well as Banashankari in South Bengaluru, the report added. A majority of the buses operated are ordinary ones. BMTC has a fleet size of 860 AC buses, but only around 80 Vayu Vajra services operate across Bengaluru, covering 500 plus trips on a daily basis. The BMTC is planning to increase the number of AC bus services depending on the demand.