BMTC bus stir chokes namma Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Pollution levels in the last three days rose across the city, with as much as 15-18% rise in air pollution  and 8-10% in sound pollution, said Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). This is attributed to the BMTC and KSRTC strike which led to a dip in mass transport and increased individual and private transport. This was being singled out as the prime reason for the rise in pollution.

To assess the impact of the KSRTC & BMTC bus strike on  air quality in Bengaluru city, ambient air quality monitoring was carried out at 8 locations round-the-clock before and during strike days, using manual and continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations.

KSPCB officials have monitored the ambient air quality in respect of particulate matter less than or equal to the size of 10 micrometres called PM10, along with SO2, and NO2 pollutants present in the air in the city. These were done at 8 spots using 6 manual stations, and two continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations.

During the KSRTC & BMTC strike day on July 25, the measured PM10 values were increased at four locations -  City Railway Station (30%) which was the highest, followed by KHB Industrial Area, Yelahanka (23%), Indira Gandhi Children’s Health Care (Nimhans) (10%) and AMCO Batteries, Mysore Road, which  recorded 9%.

It was also noted that PM10 values were found decreased at four locations -- Victoria Hospital (39%), Central Silk Board, Hosur Road  (28%) Yeshwanthpura police station by 24% and KSPCB, S.G. Halli by 3.5% when compared to normal days.

SO2 and NO2 values were both within the national limits during the normal days as well as during the strike days, the monitoring study stated. “Due to the lack of mass transport during the strike days, the number of two-wheelers and cars on roads had dramatically increased the vehicle density which had led to traffic snarls and slow-moving traffic.

This was due to constrained width of roads not accommodating the vehicular density. It caused the increase in air and noise pollution levels,” said Lakshman, KSPCB Chairman.

“On an average there is an increase of 15 to 18% in the particulate matter level in air pollution during strike days and 8 to 10% of sound pollution because of the increased number of vehicles on the road, causing slow movement of traffic and increased honking,” he added.

There are around 6,700 BMTC buses and 8,300 KSRTC buses off the road due to the strike on July 25. An average of 51 lakh people commute by BMTC while 29 lakhs commute by KSRTC buses each day. It is also argued that the transport department deployed private buses that did not have fitness certificates.