The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is planning to add over 100 new bus services across 25 high-density routes in the city.
The push comes just as 2,286 new conductors are set to join BMTC from today, helping to improve daily operations and bring more buses onto the roads.
Why This Move Matters
Though BMTC has a larger fleet than before the Covid-19 pandemic, it runs fewer buses each day due to crew shortages and inconsistent passenger demand. This has led to overcrowded buses, especially during morning and evening rush hours.
In 2016, BMTC operated over 6,200 buses daily. Now, even with a fleet of 6,851 buses, only 5,950 are on the roads each day. That’s over 900 buses left unused as per Deccan Herald.
Why the Delay?
BMTC’s Chief Traffic Manager, GT Prabhakara Reddy, explained three key challenges:
- Increase in Metro usage
- Shortage of staff
- Need to keep 500-600 buses as reserve for maintenance.
What’s Coming Soon
In addition to the new services, BMTC is also preparing to launch:
- 262 electric buses, including
- 86 AC electric buses for airport routes.
BMTC Fleet and a Gnce
- Diesel: 5,482
- Electric: 1,369
- Buses in service daily: 5,950
- Daily distance covered: 12.09 lakh km
- Daily ridership: 40 lakh passengers.
Key Routes Getting More Buses
- 401: Yalahanka to Kengeri Ttmc
- K2: Hebbal to Mysuru Road Bus Station
- 201: Srinagar to Domlur
- 215h: Majestic to Jambu Savari Dinne
- 210N: Majestic to Uttarahalli
- 13: Shivajinagar to Banashankari Ttmc
