In Bengaluru, they shelter everything except BMTC buses

Commuters have a tough time waiting for BMTC buses in Bengaluru as most of the bus shelters do not have roofs or seats. They have to brave the scorching sun and rain and also rogue drivers, who don’t stop the vehicles at the designated bus stops. Commuters and urban experts demand that the BBMP should stop maintaining bus shelters and hand over the responsibility to corporates, who can dedicate a part of their CSR funds for the upkeep of bus shelters. Most of the bus stands have become a parking place for autos, lorries and vans and also market space for flower vendors. Nischith N and Aknisree Karthik report

While the condition of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses are getting a makeover and are improving, commuters are not happy with the condition of bus shelters in the city. They have been complaining about the location of bus shelters and also lack of any information on the buses plying on a particular route.

BMTC buses are run by the government and the fares too are fixed by it. The Corporation is expected to put up signboards displaying stage-wise fares at every bus stand.

“The BMTC is the lifeline of the city and a large number of people are dependent on its services. We are happy that our bus service is among the best. But the condition of bus shelters is really bad as they have no proper seating or even a roof. Commuters are happy when a new bus shelter is inaugurated. But within a few months, it becomes dilapidated because of lack of maintenance and eventually turns into a garbage dump or street vendor outlet or even a shelter for the homeless. In some areas, two or three bus-stops are built at the same spot, confusing the commuters as to where the buses would stop,” said Mr Santosh, a regular commuter.  

Strangely, the bus shelters are under the control of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which took over their maintenance some 11 years ago. But commuters and urban experts complain that the Palike has failed to build usable and sturdy shelters. According to the BBMP, the city has 2,212 bus shelters.

“As there are no bus shelters in some areas, bus drivers too get confused as to where to stop the buses. It is better for the BBMP to stop building and maintaining bus shelters and hand over the responsibility to some corporate companies, which can divert a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for the good of the city. At least then we might get shelters that are in good condition,” said Mr Purushotham Prabhakar, an advocate and an urban expert.

Highly placed sources in BMTC told Deccan Chronicle that previous managing directors of the corporation have had at least four meetings with the BBMP to resolve the issue.

“We have repeatedly asked the BBMP to renovate the bus shelters that are in a poor condition and also to remove multiple bus shelters. But we have not got any response. Soon, the issue is likely to be solved as it is being escalated to a higher level,” said a senior BMTC official.

‘Bus shelters catering to ad mafia, not people’
The objective seems to be filling up the coffers. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike eyes projects that generate revenues for the civic body, irrespective of whether they help citizens of Bengaluru or not. BBMP officials are worried about the money they can mop up and bus shelters are a case in study.

At some spots, there are no bus shelters and people brave the scorching sun and rain as they wait to catch their buses. In other places, there are many bus shelters at the same spot, but hardly anyone using them.

BJP city unit president and former leader of opposition at BBMP, Mr N.R. Ramesh said that the location of bus shelters is decided based on the advertisement revenue they can generate. “Bus shelters are for passengers. It is the duty of the civic body to provide bus shelters at all stops. But what we see in Bengaluru is that bus shelters are not for people, but for advertisements to be put up,” he said.

He alleged that nearly 75 percent of bus shelters cater to the needs of ad agencies and not the public.

“Under the Public Private Participation model, we find advertisements being put up at bus shelters, skywalks etc. As hoardings are banned in the city and these bus shelters and skywalks are not under the purview of that rule, officials are putting up bus shelters and skywalks at places that are not convenient for the people but for the advertisement mafia.

Mayor Gangambike was not available for comment.