Small change: BMTC cuts fares for certain stages

Bengaluru: In a relief to some commuters, the BMTC has lowered its fares in certain stages to deal with the problem of loose change faced by its crew members. The new fare policy was announced by state Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy and would come into effect from April 15.

The changes have been effected only at some lower stages, while there has been an increase of Re 1 in stages 3, 6 and 8. Other stages have been left untouched. One of the significant changes was reduction of fare for II stage, from the existing Rs 12 to Rs 10. This is expected to benefit nearly 25 per cent passengers.

For Volvo bus services there has been a reduction of Rs 5 at various stages, while the minimum fare has been brought down to Rs 10 from Rs 15.
However, no relief has been provided to children and senior citizens.

No fare hike:
Interestingly though it was expected that BMTC may opt for revision of fares across all the stages, no such decision was taken.BMTC has seen a significant rise in its wage and fuel bills. It had recently increased the salaries and perks of its employees and diesel prices were revised upwards.

An eyewash: Activists
However the Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike (BBPV) and the Citizens for Bengaluru (CfB), who have been spearheading the BusBhagyaBeku campaign demanding ‘double the fleet and halve the fare’, called the BMTC announcement an ‘eyewash’ by the state government.

“The Bus Bhagya campaign was aimed to seek affordable and efficient public transport for a large population of the city, who either walk to their workplace, school, or college, or are buying two-wheelers as it is proving to be cheaper option. The problem is not of loose change, as stated by the BMTC. It is the fact that BMTC fares are not affordable. We do not appreciate the changes as it seems farcical,” says Lekha Adavi of BBPV.

“Be it the displaced slum dwellers, or IT Park staff and workers; they all commute a long distance. This reduction of fares only in the initial stages will not help them. Insignificant reduction of fares is not going to help the cause, and will in fact increase the already existing burden on BMTC,” said Vinay Sreenivasa of BBPV.

"This is but a token gesture by the BMTC, a ‘rationalisation’ exercise as they themselves term it. This brings little relief to the passenger, traffic congestion and air pollution in Bangalore. The state government should, as a pilot project, halve fares for three months and see the impact for themselves,” said Tara Krishnaswamy of CfB.

Srinivas Alavilli, a member of CfB, said, "If Delhi can experiment with odd-even, we must run a three-month pilot with half the fares and measure the impact. Unlike any other measure the government can take, drastic reduction of BMTC bus fares will have immediate effect on both traffic and pollution, we urge the state government to take this step for the sake of city residents.”

Highlights

•  Stage 2 fares cut by Rs 2 to Rs 10, from existing Rs 12
• This will benefit around 25 per cent of total commuters
•  Rs 1 increase in the stages 3, 6 and 8

Volvo services

•  Minimum fare has brought down to Rs 10 from existing Rs 15
•  Ticket fare of stage 3 has brought down to Rs 30 from existing Rs 35
•  Ticket fare of stage 3 has brought down to Rs 40 from existing Rs 45
•  Ticket fare of stage 14 has brought down to Rs 90 from existing Rs 95
•  Fares also revised in stages 10, 16,18, 19 and 22 stages.