The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will soon introduce a bus with a passenger capacity of 110, Transport minister R Ashoka said on Thursday.
The new bus will be 14.5 mt in length as opposed to the existing city buses which are 12 mt in length. The new bus would hit the road within a month and the idea is to provide more space for passengers, Ashoka said.
The vehicle developed by Volvo company can navigate the narrow roads in the City, he said. The existing buses of BMTC have a carrying capacity of 60 to 80 passengers.
There is also a plan to convert the existing Kalasipalyam bus stand near City Market into a model bus terminal, which will provide space for operating KSRTC, BMTC as well as private buses, the minister added.
Presently the bus station is in a sorry state and the new bus terminal would come up in an area of four acres. A senior official from BMTC said the BBMP has agreed to hand over the land to BMTC and only the chief minister’s nod is awaited, he added.
Ashoka also said 50 new bus stands would come up in the City limits and BMTC would procure 900 more buses within this year.
He said there are around 7,000 buses plying in City limits. The BMTC is also planning to build TTMCs (Traffic Transit Management Centres) at Hebbal, Jayanagar, Katriguppe, Electronics City and Yelahanka. BMTC has already released Rs 66 lakh to the BBMP to construct bus bays in various parts of the City, he added.
Ashoka also laid the foundation stone for the construction of modern bus stations at Bagalakunte (Mallasandra) and Hesaraghtta.
The two bus stations would be built at a cost of Rs seven crore each.
The stations will have rainwater harvesting system, canteen, toilets, seating arrangements, traffic controller room, pass counter etc.
Farmer-friendly buses
With a view to helping farmers, who carry vegetables and other food products in and out of the markets in the City limits, the BMTC is planning to introduce farmer-friendly buses.
Thousands of farmers drop into the City from places like Hesaraghatta, Kanakapura, and Hoskote. The double decker buses will have space for farmers at one level and in the remaining portion their belongings can be kept, Ashoka said.