Can a distance of more than 55 km be covered in just one-and-half hours by public bus? Though unimaginable in Bengaluru, the prospect will soon become a reality for hundreds who commute daily to Electronics City.
Starting Wednesday, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will amp up its services running through the NICE Ring Road. Currently, the distance is traversed by buses running through crowded areas of the city – a journey that can be upwards of two hours.
“We have a few buses running through NICE, but due to the response received, we are doing it in a big way,” said Veeregowda, General Manager (Traffic), BMTC.
BMTC expects the services to aid thousands of employees in the Information Technology and Bio-Technology hub of Electronics City, as well as decongest its buses within the city.
As many as nine routes – numbered NICE 1 to 9, two of which are AC buses – covering 42 trips daily will ply on the Ring Road. Of this, 21 round trips will be done during peak hours – between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Tickets are bound to be more expensive than other routes, due to the hefty toll fees needed to be paid by the buses per trip.
For instance, commuters in the Summanahalli and Yeshwantpur buses – which will traverse almost the entire length of the NICE Ring Road – will have to pay an additional Rs. 15 per trip. Passes too reflect the toll charges, with the NICE Road Day Pass costing Rs. 95 instead of Rs. 65 for other routes; and Rs. 170 from Rs. 140 currently for Vajra Day Pass.
The services will be formally launched during the 62nd Bus Day at Electronics City (Near Wipro Gate No. 10) on Wednesday by Minister Ramalinga Reddy.
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