Longest Volvo bus on trial run in city
The longest Volvo bus, stretching 14.5 metres, was inducted into the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) on a trial basis here Saturday.
The bus, which can accommodate 110 people at a go, will run between Banashankari to ITPB, Kempegowda bus station to Kadugodi, Majestic to Attibele, Kempegowda bus station to Bannerghatta National Park, and Silk Board to Hebbal on different days.
Transport Minister R. Ashok, who flagged off the bus, said: “We have been striving to promote mass transport and this new bus is an initiative in that direction.”
Mr. Ashok said this bus model bus would reduce diesel consumption, traffic jams and pollution.
He also spoke about plans to introduce intra-city bus services on the lines of BMTC in smaller towns like Mangalore, Shimoga, Mandya and Kolar, as well as in north Karnataka districts by the end of the month.
BMTC Chief Mechanical Engineer (Production, Transport and Planning) C.G. Anand said: “If the response of the public is good and the vehicle performs well, we will go ahead and purchase the bus.”
Keywords: Volvo bus, BMTC, Bangalore public transport
The only solution is to increse the bus fleet. There should be only 10% volvo air condition buses with the remaining 90% normal buses.
Also more buses should be put in service during peak hours. These extra long buses are doomed to be a failure even before they start commercial operations.
Thanks.
Amazing job.. very good step taken by BMTC.. bangalore leads the country in terms of public transport..i belive the bus does not cause any trafic congestion reason being, it does not operate in core areas of the city where there are small roads and jam packed vehicles instead its bound to travel on spacious outer ring roads which makes no room for traffic jam.Hence, its very much feasible.
Such vehicles should be used only in the outskirts and not inside the city. Withinn city only mini vehicles will be useful given the length and breadth of the roads we have. These buses should be point to point transit vehicles else they will prove to be useless in Indian context.
Why don't you educate drivers on traffic rules and regulations and try to enforce these rules, rather than introduce bigger buses. Our traffic problems would be halved, only if drivers used some common sense.
Bangalore is a special city - although it is being called concrete jungle with the IT boom - but nevertheless it always does something that is unique and not done by most south indian states - Great Bus Great City !!
I would tend to agree with Rohan Gupta. I have seen them being used in Dubai - UAE and even with the high standard of roads in the Emirates - these buses are known to cause traffic jams. Maybe a combination of increased frequency and a Bus and Public Transport only lane could help.
I'm not really convinced if this was a great idea. This bus can cause traffic problems when it is taking a turn. Due to its huge size, it would require nearby vehicles to completely stop. Big trucks and buses should actually be removed from city roads in my opinion.
I have just one query,WHAT about the turning RADIUS of the bus/?i feel it is more appropriate to run as intra-city EXPRESS, LIKE THE SHATABDHIS OF INDIAN RAILWAYS.
Being a Tamilian I always get jealous when i see such buses being introduced in Bangalore while chennai is still lagging behind in such quality buses. Of course there are volvo buses in Chennai but they have badly managed and the drivers don't know how to drive a auto transmission vehicle properly. Chennai needs a well planned out BRTS with dedicated bus corridor to transport people in a timely manner without blocking traffic at every bus stop. Metro and monorail can supplement the BRTS.
Way to go BMTC ! Improving public transportation is the ONLY way to reduce congestion on our roads. Instead, every Tom, Dick & Harry now wants to own a car, when there is no space to even park a car, let alone drive them on the roads. And buses are way more effective/cost-efficient in reducing congestion than trains, since they can go to every nook and corner of the city. Wonder why Chennai has not taken up the Volvo bus idea to the extent Bangalore has. After all, there *is* a big segment of the population who can afford the fare in Volvo buses.
An appreciated Initiative , but where are the roads to Drive these buses ??? And who is there to solve the traffic problem caused by them ?? God Save people of Bangalore . Amen !!
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