 Bangalore
Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC)
is the only State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) in the country
earning profits despite the fact that its property often bears the
brunt of agitating mobs. It strives to provide public transportation
to the ever increasing commuting population of the city. To meet the
inadequate public transportation needs BMTC is to add 250 private
operators' buses to its fleet within six months, said the BMTC
Managing Director, Pradeep Singh Kharola.
The BMTC operates 2,300 buses supported by 14,000 employees.
Everyday, about 25 lakh people commute in BMTC buses. Formerly
called BTS (Bangalore Transport Service), the organisation
was running under loss until PGR Sindhia, the Transport Minister,
took over two years ago. The BTS was transformed into BMTC
to operate buses on commercial lines as well and now it boasts of
yearly profits.
BMTC has many successful experimental firsts to
its credit. It was the first RTC to recruit lady conductors and now
there are 232 lady conductors. Buses without conductors called
Janapriyavaahini services with pneumatic (automatic) doors
were first introduced by BMTC only. No other RTC in India has the
system of monthly bus-passes for the public like the one BMTC
has.
Mr Kharola said that once the multi-storied Shivajinagar bus-station,
which is under construction, comes into use, it will make travelling
by BMTC buses within the c ity
a pleasurable experience for commuters with the added comfort of a
convenient place to wait.
BMTC provides free and concessional bus passes for journalists,
school children and college students. The commuter bus passes have
helped both passengers and the organization. Presently there are three
categories of commuter monthly passes being issued by the BMTC.
Those who buy the
Rs 340 pass can travel in all types of BMTC services - Pushpak,
suburban red board buses and the city-limit white board buses. The
Rs 290 bus pass buyer can travel in both red board buses and
white board buses. The Rs 170 bus pass buyer can travel only
in white board buses.
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4:11:18 AM 
