BMTC rides on money!!

Bangalore, the Silicon valley of India. People come here to make magic out of their lives. This IT city is most developing city in the southern India. Any new IT company plans to put up a office in India, thinks of Bangalore to open their offices.

So its obvious that people use the public transport for local transport. These days things have become so expensive that its not a easy thing to make life in Bangalore and for that matter in any Indian metro. We know that petrol and diesel costs are shooting up the sky. Over that even the government is in the race ahead to make profits out of public.

First of all the BMTC bus fares are so high, Government may be thinking that only IT people are travelling in the BMTC buses and they can loot them. But it has forgotten about the poor people who only use the local transport. They need to shell out about 35 bucks a day for transport. Which may happen to be their cost of daily bread. As far as i have heard and seen, its Bangalore only which has higher bus fares in the metro transport. I know about mumbai(4 times bigger in volume than Bangalore) operates BEST buses which in no compare with BMTC numbers. People travel here for the whole day with a daily pass of mere Rs. 20, which is almost half the fare compared to Bangalore. I believe there might be fuel difference in both the cities, but its not worth charging double. Mumbai people spend their half a day in buses for only 20 rupees and they travel from one end to other about nearly 50-60 km(one way), which is double than Bangalore commuting distance.

Also VAJRA transport is also costly compared to the Mumbai AC bus transport. Govt of Karnataka should also keep in mind about the poor people who wholly depend on these buses for transport and should not loot them. Its a matter to look back at for Minister of transport R Ashok. Bangalore has become a place only for rich people who migrate from other states to make their lives better, without even caring about own state people.

Here is the list of the changes rates. We are not responsible if your under cardiac arrest after you read, read it at your own risk:

* Black Board: Existing Rs 450, Revised Rs 500
* Red Board, Pushpak, Janapriya Vahini: Existing Rs 600, Revised Rs 660
* Black Board (Senior Citizens): Existing Rs 400, Revised Rs 450
* Red Board, Pushpak, Janapriya Vahini, Suvarna (Senior Citizen): Existing Rs 540, Revised Rs 590
* Vajra Volvo Gold Pass: Existing Rs 1,250, Revised Rs 1350
* Vajra Gold Pass without ID: Existing Rs 1300, Revised Rs 1,400
* Vayu Vajra Volvo (BIAL) Gold Pass: Existing Rs 2550, Revised Rs 2,650
* Bulk purchase of 50 plus Vayu Vajra Gold Pass: Existing Rs 2,400, Revised Rs 2,500
* Bulk purchase of 100 plus Vayu Vajra Gold Pass: Existing Rs 2,300, Revised Rs 2,400
Dual pricing of day pass BMTC has also announced introduction of a system of dual pricing of day travel pass, with the aim of eliminating unauthorised circulation of day pass. The rate/cost of this pass has also increased from the existing Rs 32 to Rs 35 (with BMTC ID) and Rs 40 (without BMTC ID).

Cost of Vajra Gold Day pass has also been increased from existing Rs 80 to revised Rs 85. The new rates will be in effect from 27 June, 2010.
BMTC has waived the condition of possession of ID card for availing day pass for Rs 35 up to 15 July, to enable commuters to obtain these ID cards, that are priced at Rs 25 with a validity of one year from month of issue. However, commuters who purchase a day pass beyond 15 July will have to pay Rs 40.

I myself went dizzy writing these detals. If your reading till this end your a braveheart :)

Comments

  1. @Gururaj,
    While it is important to point out the cost of living, perhaps you should also care to remember that costs are all inter-related. Will you take a lower salary when other costs are going up? I thought so. How can you imagine then that the bus staff will take a lower salary when all costs are going up?

    It is important to have a public transport service to cover the poor, yes. But, if it is done at a loss, then the bus service itself may not exist.

    BEST is a poor example to cite - they cover a vastly small portion of the city - the bulk of public transport in Mumbai is covered by the trains.

    Tamil Nadu tried this appeasing the lower income groups in their public transport as a sole vote-picking gimmic. In the last 15 years, they have gone from the best public transport company in India to the laggard. The bus conditions are pathetic, staff rude, your tax money is used to artificially pay their enormous bonus money. Unless, you feel that it is a better way to govern our communities, I am sure you don't recommend that model for Bangalore.

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