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Time of India
28-06-2025
- Time of India
Bike-taxi ban: Bengalureans' frustration grows
Getting transport during peak time at an affordable rate could make or mar the day for many Bengalureans. Since the bike-taxi ban, it has been the latter for all those who used this option. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now For the longest time, this reporter believed all able-bodied people should commute by public transport. It helps combat air pollution and eases traffic congestion. But working professionals who require a neat appearance often face challenges with BMTC buses, many of which have soiled seats and untidy floors. Bengaluru's public bus network also suffers from inefficiencies and inadequate coverage. The metro currently covers only a small part of the city. During peak times, cabs and autorickshaws often refuse rides and charge prohibitive fares. In this environment, bike-taxis came as a huge relief for many. Rising commute costs Dhanraj Aribam, 21, a resident of BTM Layout who is pursuing his undergrad in a private university near Richmond Circle, says his life has been terrible following the bike-taxi ban. 'I spend Rs 400 on my daily commute nowadays. Being a student, I feel the pinch of high commuting costs but there are no better options,' he says. Ishan Sinha, a 22-year-old content curator and design developer in Apollo AyurVAID, echoes similar sentiments. Bike- taxis were his go-to commuting solution for their convenience, affordability, and speed. Ishan says, 'I used to spend around Rs 50-100 daily on bike-taxi rides and they also helped me quickly navigate heavy traffic. Now I end up paying up to Rs 300 daily.' He now relies on a mix of public transport and auto rides, which has increased his overall commute time too. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now For women, safety is a huge concern. A post-graduate student in Jain University, who did not want to be named, told us she prefers to commute by bus after the bike-taxi ban came into effect. 'However, buses are too crowded and that makes me feel unsafe,' she says, adding she does not have an Aadhaar card from Karnataka and hence no access to free travel. Sometimes she even cancels plans when the travel is too expensive or exhausting. 'The metro has raised its fares and it's more or less equivalent to autorickshaw rates,' she says. Her pocket money is primarily spent on transportation and meals. She says autorickshaw drivers often demand Rs 100 even for a 1-2 km ride, though the actual fare should be around Rs 30. Transportation, she says, tops the list of her expenses. 'Every time I step out, transportation via autorickshaw alone costs me a minimum of Rs 300,' she says. ORR association promotes buses The Outer Ring Road is home to 26 tech parks, employing around 10 lakh techies. In response to the commuting challenges, the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA) is actively promoting public transport use. "We are planning to propose to BMTC to increase the frequency of buses, especially the Vayu Vajra," Manas Das, president of ORRCA, says. Last year, the organisation implemented an initiative called Private to Public, aiming to encourage employees to adopt sustainable transportation methods. VOICE BOX Employees in these tech parks do not use public transport as much as we want them to. They often cite poor first and last mile connectivity as the main reason for choosing to use private vehicles. Manas Das Manas Das, PRESIDENT, OUTER RING ROAD COMPANIES ASSOCIATION (ORRCA) Getting around in Bengaluru has become challenging. Auto drivers are very egoistic, and they take you for a ride. I bought an e-bike recently. It helps me save a lot of money. Joel Daniel Joel Daniel, 20, Lives in Indiranagar On weekdays, I used to travel by Rapido. The commute from my residence at Mahaveer Ranches apartment to my workplace in EGL Domlur would typically cost between Rs 150-170 only. Praveenkumar Math Currently, I rely on my personal vehicle or taxi services for commuting, which proves to be both expensive and requires more time. Praveenkumar Math, 35, IT PROFESSIONAL The bike-taxi ban has substantially raised my transportation expenses. David Kumar Anthonappa The monthly expenditure has gone up from Rs 2,600 to Rs 6,000. David Kumar Anthonappa, ENVIRONMENTALIST This abrupt change has disrupted my routine, making every journey longer and costlier and forcing me to rethink my travel options. Ishan Sinha Ishan Sinha, 22, CONTENT CURATOR AND DESIGN DEVELOPER IN APOLLO AYURVAID Following the bike-taxi ban, the cost of my daily commute has increased from Rs 180 to Rs 300. Sania Anna Ajo Additionally, the extended waiting periods for cabs have made the commute more challenging. Sania Anna Ajo, STUDENT, LIVES IN HEBBAL Bike-taxis were very affordable. I live on my own and for people like me, they were a great option. If any sudden plans come up, I could always depend on bike taxis. They would get booked quickly and I wouldn't have to think about the expenses much. While a ride to Cubbon Park would cost Rs 90 by auto and Rs 30 by metro, followed by a long walk, bike- taxis would only cost Rs 52 and I'd get dropped at the destination. A POST-GRADUATE STUDENT AT JAIN UNIVERSITY (Did not want to be named) Bike-taxis were perfect for beating the city's traffic. Saif Numan They saved me both time and money during my daily commute. Since the ban, I rely on autos or cabs, which are costlier and often stuck in traffic. Daily expenses have nearly doubled, and commuting has become more stressful. Saif Numan, 23, EMPLOYEE IN A PRIVATE COMPANY I now end up spending Rs 200 daily. Rapido bikes were much cheaper, and faster. Malavika Rajesh Malavika Rajesh, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT, ST JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY Bike-taxis reduce congestion, making them vital for efficient transit. Instead of an outright ban, authorities should consider measures such as clear taxi branding, mandatory number plate verification, standardised driver uniforms, and CCTV surveillance to ensure compliance and safety. Pramodh Kumar Nadella Pramodh Kumar Nadella, BUSINESS ANALYST, TECH MAHINDRA, ELECTRONICS CITY
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Time of India
BMTC to replace ageing volves with 85 e-AC buses on airport routes
Bengaluru: Passengers travelling to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) will soon enjoy more environmentally friendly journeys as BMTC prepares to deploy 85 new electric AC buses , replacing the existing fleet of older AC volvo buses. Charging infrastructure will be established at Terminal II of the airport to support these operations. Due to operational constraints, BMTC plans to operate these electric buses primarily from Central Business District. Electric services are not expected on routes from distant locations such as Electronics City, Chandapura, and other points situated more than 50km from the airport. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru A BMTC official said: "Initially, we will phase out approximately 80 buses with electric alternatives. Additional replacements will follow in subsequent phases." The official confirmed fares for electric buses will remain consistent with current 'Vayu Vajra' rates. On not operating electric AC buses on longer routes, the official said: "Under our agreement, the private operator must fulfil an assured 225km daily. However, these longer routes involve schedules covering 350km to 400km journeys, creating challenges for electric bus charging. This issue does not affect other routes." With passengers currently experiencing taxi service shortages, particularly from airport to the city, BMTC's new buses are likely to attract more users. At present, 11,000 to 14,000 people utilise airport bus services daily, though the ageing fleet has affected the reputation of 'Vayu Vajra' services. Currently, 450 AC volvo buses operate throughout the city, with 140 serving airport routes. "According to policy, older AC buses must be decommissioned after reaching a certain operational age. This year, 80 to 90 AC buses will be decommissioned. On airport routes, we currently operate relatively newer buses introduced in 2018-19. As we replace these with electric buses, we will redeploy the airport route AC buses within city limits," the official added.
New Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Full-wrapped ads on BMTC buses confuse commuters
BENGALURU: While the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has permitted full wrap advertisements in its buses, commuters, especially the elderly, complain that they aren't able to quickly identify their buses. Also, they say they unable to find their stops and get down easily, as the side panels of the buses are also wrapped with advertisements. 'Earlier, it was easy for me to identify the buses. But for over a month, I have been struggling to identify buses and have missed them as the whole bus is wrapped with advertisements,' said Malathi, who works as house-keeper, a regular BMTC commuter. She also said that earlier it was easy to know where the bus was travelling and when they should be ready to get down. 'But as the regular BMTC buses are pasted with advertisements even on the side panels of the bus, those who travel by standing find it difficult to know if their stop is approaching soon', she added. Many elders who are sixty years and above and use BMTC regularly, complain that they unable to differentiate the buses from private buses and said it was because of the full wrap advertisements. The bus corporation decided to wrap around 3,000 buses, including the Vayu Vajra buses, with advertisements to increase revenue. Some complain that these full bus advertisements are an eyesore and a visual pollution in the city. 'BMTC buses are all over the city. At every traffic signal, I see the full bus advertisements. While we understand that revenue generation is needed for BMTC, these kinds of full wrap advertisements are an eyesore in Bengaluru, a city with international repute. They can still earn revenue through advertisements, but not this way,' suggests Harish Kumar, a bank employee. 'Advertisements are one of the major sources of non-ticket revenue to BMTC. While we were permitting advertisements on the back panel of the buses, the full wrap adverts are new and fetch more revenue,' said a BMTC official. He added that other bus corporations in India, too, have opted for full wrap advertisements. 'Advertisements on the side panels of the buses are 'see-through', while the rest of it is made of vinyl. The main condition laid down is that these advertisements should not in any way block the bus signages, the front and back lights, depot numbers, vehicle registration number and others', he said.
