Latest news with #SwitchMobility
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
When Rs 12 beats Rs 175: Bengaluru founder snubs costly auto prices, uses cheaper option to protest ‘stupid fares'
Swapnil Jain , co-founder of Ather Energy , did not expect a normal Monday morning commute to kick up such noise. He had both his vehicles parked at the office, so when he needed to get back, he tried the usual option. 'For various reasons, both my vehicles were parked at the office and I had no ride. Tried booking an auto because it is only 4 kms, but the price was ₹175. Heck with it, just decided to take a bus to office at ₹12,' he posted on X. And that was that. Or so he thought. 'Protesting stupid auto prices' Calling it what it was, Jain wrote, 'This is me protesting against the stupid auto prices.' — swapniljain89 (@swapniljain89) Live Events The phrase struck a chord. In Bengaluru, short auto rides turning costly is nothing new. Jain's public refusal felt relatable for many. His ₹12 bus ticket said more than a rant ever could. UPI payment, no loose change There was more to this than the fare. Jain pointed out that BMTC's UPI option makes life easier. No awkward wait for coins. No hunting for change in the pocket. He also gave a nod to Switch Mobility's electric buses . Comfortable enough, he said. A slight lag in acceleration did not bother him much. He figured it was down to shifting passenger weight. Bengaluru joins in The post caught on. Others began to chip in with their own stories. One user wrote, 'BMTC has been my primary mode for the last 1 year. Other than the sudden acceleration or braking, no complaints. No issue with frequency (500D), and no last-mile connectivity issues either.' Someone else shared, 'Use the Namma BMTC app for live tracking. It's not perfect, but it works. Pair it with UPI and you're sorted.' Another liked Jain's small stand, saying, 'I like how you don't waste money on simple things. It's not just about saving ₹100- ₹150, it's about staying grounded in the roots we come from.' Of course, not everyone clapped along. One user poked fun at Jain's scooters. 'Same way we don't want to waste money on your scooters that stop when there's a pillion rider. You call that derating? Hilarious!' the user said. Someone found fault with the buses too. 'Why can't the floor be flat? Too many steps inside, feels like climbing into an auditorium,' read another reply. Others dropped tips. 'You can get daily passes through the Tummoc app too. Also, airport buses on the BMTC app are really accurate.' Under it all, this was not only about a short bus ride. Jain's post pulled out an old complaint Bengaluru commuters share quietly every day. Auto fares that feel random. The relief when the bus turns up on time. Small fixes like paying through an app. 'Needed a rick in the rain, guess who's charging Rs 175 for 3 km? Rapido!' another user added, showing this is not one man's story. Swapnil Jain's choice to spend twelve rupees instead of one seventy-five will not overhaul Bengaluru's transport overnight. But it has pushed a simple idea back into the open. Sometimes a bus ride is worth more than it costs. And a small protest can make people pause and think before hailing the next pricey rick.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru entrepreneur takes ₹12 bus ride to office: ‘My protest against stupid fares'
A Bengaluru-based start-up co-founder sparked an online conversation on Monday after he chose to take a ₹12 BMTC bus instead of paying ₹175 for a 4-km auto ride to his office, calling it his way of 'protesting stupid auto prices.' The post quickly gained traction, with other users chiming in to share similar experiences and support for BMTC.(Linkedin) Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Ather Energy co-founder Swapnil Jain explained the situation, 'For various reasons, both my vehicles were parked at the office and I had no ride. Tried booking an auto because it is only 4 kms, but the price was ₹175. Heck with it, just decided to take a bus to office at ₹12.' Check out his post here: (Also read: Bengaluru auto fares to go up from August 1: Here's what you'll pay now) Calling it a small act of protest, he added, 'This is me protesting against the stupid auto prices.' In a follow-up, he praised BMTC's UPI payment feature, saying it eliminated the usual back-and-forth for change. He also gave a shoutout to the Switch Mobility electric buses, calling them comfortable despite minor lags in acceleration, which he attributed to varying passenger loads. The post quickly gained traction, with other users chiming in to share similar experiences and support for BMTC. How did X users react? 'BMTC has been my primary mode for the last 1 year. Other than the sudden acceleration or braking, no complaints. No issue with frequency (500D), and no last-mile connectivity issues either,' one user noted. Another suggested using the Namma BMTC app for live bus tracking, calling it 'not 100 per cent accurate' but still 'quite handy.' One commenter appreciated the founder's choice, writing,'I like how you don't waste money on simple things. It's not just about saving ₹100- ₹150, it's about staying grounded in the roots we come from.' (Also Read: Rejected by NEET, hired by Rolls-Royce: How this Karnataka girl bagged a ₹72 lakh Job offer at 20)
Hans India
a day ago
- Automotive
- Hans India
Bengaluru Startup Founder Chooses ₹12 Bus Over ₹175 Auto in Protest of High Fares
Fed up with soaring auto fares in the city, a local startup co-founder made a conscious choice to commute by BMTC bus. He spoke about a relatable conversation online. The 4-kilometre ride to work would have cost ₹175 by auto, but instead, he opted for a ₹12 bus ticket. This is my personal protest against unreasonable auto prices, the founder said in a post that gained traction. He also noted two key takeaways: the convenience of paying BMTC fares via UPI—eliminating the hassle of loose change—and the comfort of Switch Mobility electric buses. Acceleration could improve, but it's understandable given the passenger load variation, he added. As Bengaluru's residents continue to grapple with unpredictable commute costs, this incident highlights growing public interest in smarter, sustainable, and affordable transit options.
India Today
a day ago
- Automotive
- India Today
Bengaluru man opts for Rs 12 bus ride over Rs 175 auto fare, calls it a protest
A Bengaluru-based start-up co-founder made waves online after choosing a Rs 12 BMTC bus ride over a Rs 175 auto fare for a 4-km trip to work, calling it a small protest against what he termed 'stupid auto prices.'Swapnil Jain, co-founder of Ather Energy, posted on X that both his vehicles were at the office, and he had no ride. Seeing the auto fare surge, he opted for the city bus various reasons, both my vehicles were parked at office and I had no ride to office. Tried booking an auto because it is only 4kms, but the price was 175. Heck with it, just decided to take a bus to office at 12 rupees. This is me protesting against the stupid auto prices,' he wrote. In the same post, he highlighted two things he learned from the experience:You can now pay BMTC fares via UPI, making the ride smoother without haggling for Mobility's electric buses are comfortable, although he pointed out a minor issue with acceleration, which he said was likely due to variable passenger a look at his now-viral post here: Social media users shared their own commuting experiences. A user called out a similar incident during the rains, saying, 'Needed a rick in the rain, guess who's charging Rs 175 for 3 km? Rapido!' and suggested EV autos running via app-based platforms might be a good user offered a practical tip: 'Use the Namma BMTC app for live tracking. It's not perfect, but it works. Pair it with UPI and you're sorted.'A user who claimed themselves to be a long-time BMTC commuter added: 'Been using BMTC for a year now. No frequency issues (500D), and I don't struggle with last-mile connections.'Another user praised Jain's move, saying, 'As a fellow BMTC fan, it gives me great joy to see you support the bus! UPI payments made things simpler after the fare hike.'However, not everyone was cheering. A user sarcastically said, 'Same way we don't want to waste money on your scooters that stop when there's a pillion rider. You call that derating? Hilarious!'Others took the chance to critique the Switch Mobility buses. 'Why can't the floor be flat? Too many steps inside, feels like climbing into an auditorium,' one of the users said. Another user said, 'You can get daily passes through the Tummoc app too. Also, airport buses on the BMTC app are really accurate.'See the comments here: Swapnil Jain's Rs 12 decision was too relatable for Bengaluru's daily commuters, not just for the price, but for the quiet rebellion against soaring urban transport costs. Whether or not it dents the auto pricing problem, it has certainly sparked a much-needed conversation.- EndsMust Watch
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
E-buses hit the road packed with features that keep in mind safety and passenger comfort
The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) had recently upgraded its fleet by inducting 600 low-floor diesel buses to make travelling easier for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Now, all eyes are on the 120 low-floor electric buses (e-buses), which were inducted into the fleet last month. With this, the MTC has advanced its desire to modernise its fleet, its concern for being environmentally conscious, and keep passenger comfort and safety at the heart of its operations. This is its first fleet of zero-pollution buses in the city, even as it is in the process of expanding the e-bus fleet. These are being operated by Switch Mobility, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland, under a gross cost contract model. The MTC is set to create new benchmarks in passenger amenities, offering several safety and security features in the e-buses. Giving a tour of the facilities for e-bus operation and maintenance at the newly built Vyasarpadi Depot, a senior MTC official said the 12 metre long low-floor e-buses had ramps, along with separate seats for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Each of the 39 seats comes with its own seat belt and have a dedicated charging port for mobile devices underneath. The MTC has made it mandatory for e-buses to have four closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at the factory stage, along with 13 emergency switches. The e-buses with digital display boards and announcement systems will provide details such as the next destination and the route being taken, thanks to being linked to the global positioning system (GPS) machine installed in them. The MTC official said the Vyasarpadi Depot, which was meant for non-air conditioned e-buses, had a total of 32 charging units. Each vehicle can be fully charged within two hours, and for each full charge, they can be operated for up to 200 km. At present, the MTC has announced 11 bus routes for the 120 e-buses. Of these, circular routes are being operated from KKD Nagar (route nos. 2B, C33, C64). The remaining routes are Broadway to Kilambakkam (18A), Vallalar Nagar to Poonamallee (37), Red Hills (57), and Periyapalayam (57X); MKB Nagar to Koyambedu (46G) and Kilambakkam (170TX), Perambur to Manali (164E), and Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar to Guindy Industrial Estate (170C). While welcoming the move to include accessibility features in the e-buses, persons with disabilities have raised some concerns. Vaishnavi Jayakumar, an office-bearer of the Disability Rights Alliance (DRA), said the wheelchair space in low-floor diesel buses was better as it accommodated more types of wheeled mobility devices, and has a better grab bar. The doors not moving when someone is using the rails to board the vehicle is a definite improvement, making it easier for senior citizens. T. Sheikh Mohideen of Thoraipakkam said air-conditioned e-buses should be introduced on the Rajiv Gandhi Salai route as well. The MTC official said work to set up a bus depot exclusively for e-buses was under way in Perumbakkam, and after the facility was completed, in about a month's time, e-buses would be run on the information technology corridor too.
