Bengaluru: Double-Decker Buses To Run Only On 3 Routes; Here’s Why

Bengaluru Double-Decker Buses: The BMTC is ready to reintroduce double-decker buses in the city, but the services of these buses will be restricted to limited routes. However, commuters desire the facility on every route. This is the reason why double-decker buses cannot operate on every road in the silicon city.

Bengaluru: The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is all prepared for re-introducing the double-decker buses in the city and has called for tenders. However, the daily commuters are both pleased and confused by BMTC’s decision, questioning why twin-deck buses, capable of carrying more passengers at a time, are limited to specific routes rather than being introduced on all busy roads. Responding on the commuters question, a senior official stated that most of the roads in the city are not double-decker friendly. “We would want to have more double-decker buses to neutralise the heavy rush, but we can’t as a majority of the roads have ceased to be double-decker friendly,” TOI quoted the official as saying.

Bengaluru Double-Decker Buses: Development Is The Biggest Hurdle

It is noteworthy that in the last 25 years, the roads have transformed, with as many as 42 flyovers and 28 underpasses being built without factoring in the return of double-decker buses. Several skywalks have also emerged in recent years, dotting the busy roads along with low-height gantries and other structure. Hence the double-decker busses can’t run on every route of silicon city.

Bengaluru Double-Decker Buses: The History

The presence of double-decker buses on city roads dates back to 1997, but they were eventually phased out due to operational and maintenance issues. However, a renewed interest in double-decker buses has emerged recently as part of an initiative to boost public transport in the tech-capital, which ranks among the top 10 most congested cities globally.

Bengaluru Double-Decker Buses: The Selected Routes

Due to the above-mentioned reasons and with not many options left, the BMTC has identified three routes for double-decker bus operations. The routes are – Majestic (Kempegowda bus station) to Shivajinagar, Majestic to Attibele, and Vijayanagar to Kalasipalya.
According to Ramachandra R, Managing Director of BMTC, the department has approved the floating tender to lease as many as 10 double-decker AC electric buses on a Gross Cost Contract (GCC) basis.

“Last year, the corporation had planned for direct procurement of these buses. As per the directions of the state govt, we’ve floated fresh tenders to operate buses on the GCC model. We’ll pay the private operator on a per-km basis,” TOI quoted Ramachandra as saying.
Notably, the BMTC will use funds from the Directorate of Urban Land Transport and the National Clean Air Program for the project.

Bengaluru Double-Decker Buses: Capacity

Unlike normal electric buses that have a carrying capacity of 33-40 seats, a double-decker bus can ferry as many as 65 passengers.