The Hindu 06.02.2010
BMTC plans more bus-stands in city
Staff Reporter
BANGALORE: The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has ambitious plans to construct bus-stands that offer basic amenities, including drinking water and toilets, bus pass counters and canteens every five km in the city, Transport Minister R. Ashok said here on Tuesday while inaugurating the Bande Maramma Bus Stand at Nagarabhavi 9th Block.
BMTC, which has 46 bus-stands across the city, excluding major bus stations at Majestic, Shivajinagar, Shanthinagar, Mysore Road and Jayanagar, is looking to civic authorities for sanction of land for the purpose.
Work on its 10 travel and transit management centres (TTMCs) is going on a fast pace and soon they will be ready to offer “park and ride” facility.
BMTC’s Board recently decided to construct 10 more such centres on a public-private partnership.
BMTC has redefined commuting by offering comfortable travel through Vajra, Suvarna and JNNURM buses. “The time when one used to hesitate to board a BMTC bus has changed and many are opting for our buses,” the Minister said.
The Bande Maramma Bus Stand, one of the many to be inaugurated recently, has 131 square metres of bus stand and 140 square metres of passenger concourse. The area has toilets, shops, canteen and provision to house ATMs. Mr. Ashok said the land had actually been encroached and the local residents’ welfare association had fought hard to reclaim it. The erstwhile Rajarajeshwarinagar City Municipal Council offered the land free to the Corporation, he noted.
Working with BBMP
BMTC Managing Director Syed Zameer Pasha told The Hindu the corporation was working in close partnership with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in constructing wayside bus shelters and bus-stands.
