 To
meet the ever increasing public transportation needs of the
city, the Bangalore
Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is
striving to improve its services. Since it was converted into
BMTC from BTS two years ago, it has been experimenting
with the introduction of new systems of bus operation like the
Janapriyavaahini services with pneumatic (automatic)
doors without conductors.
Managing Director of BMTC,
Pradeep Singh Kharola has been instrumental in taking concrete
steps to better the city's public transport service. In an interview
with bangalorebest.com, he shares his views on the services
of BMTC and its future plans.
When are the Volvo buses going
to ply in Bangalore city?
The Metro Bus Project,
is supposed to be implemented in about eight months. Under this
project, the bus transport system in Bangalore city is going
to be modernized by introducing Volvo's modern high tech capacity
buses on a few dedicated lanes in the city. We had a trial run
of the bus between Jayanagar and Shivajinagar.
Do the Pushpak buses bring
returns to BMTC?
Yes.
The Pushpak services are viable to the organization.
Commuters complain about journey
delays in Pushpak Janapriyavaahini buses because here the driver
himself has to issue tickets without a conductor. Comment.
It is only a transition stage for Janapriyavahini services.
We hope it will settle down soon and the commuters may feel
comfortable. 
Are you going to ply Pushpak services from suburb townships
like Yelahanka Satellite town and Kengeri Satellite town?
Pushpak services are meant only for city operation
and the fare is also high in Pushpaks comparatively. They are
not for suburbs.
Since when did you began to recruit ladies for the job of conductors?
How is the performance of lady conductors?
Since one year we have been recruiting lady conductors. Lady
conductors are as good as male conductors.
How many lady conductors do you have and have you had any complaints
from them?
There are 232 lady conductors
in BMTC. Lady conductors are happy with their job. More over
they are very enthusiastic about their work.
You have been recruiting lady conductors. Why not lady drivers
too?
BMTC has provisions for recruiting
lady drivers as well. In fact, 33 per cent reservation of jobs
for ladies is being implemented in BMTC. But, so far, not a
single lady applied for the job of a driver.
How does the monthly bus-pass
system help commuters? Is it bringing returns to your organization?
Our commuters are very happy with the monthly pass system. It
is also viable to the organization.
Has any other city in the country emulated this system of monthly
passes?
No other state has this kind
of bus-pass system. Karnataka is the only Indian state to implement
the monthly bus-pass system for its mass public.
What are the results of the time regulating methods you have
implemented?
We have introduced the time
regulating measures only in Subhash Nagar based Kempe Gowda
Bus-station (from where buses ply to all the interior parts
of the city). Due to that, punctuality among the staff and the
bus schedules has improved a lot. Cancellation of bus schedules
have also come down to a large extent.
Why are there so few double-decker
buses plying in Bangalore?
There are only about six double-decker buses plying on one or
two short routes in the city and they are going to be phased
out slowly. The height of the double-decker causes problems
in running them.
Are there any plans to increase the number of BMTC buses or
to add private buses?
900 buses have been added
to the fleet of BMTC in the last four years. 250 private buses
are going to be added to BMTC service in about six months. So
far we have taken 120 buses from private operators.
Under Pradeep Singh Kharola's capable management, BMTC hopes
to become one of the most efficient city transport services
in the country.
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4:45:27 AM 
