The operational efficiency of buses, measured in terms of kilometres operated per day, has shown some improvement amidst a surge in new vehicles flooding the city streets. It was noted by officials of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) that each bus, on average, covered 203 kilometres per day during the period of 2023-24, marking a rise from the previous year's average of 186 kilometres.
According to BMTC officials, this improvement can be attributed to several factors. Previously, buses were typically operated for eight hours during general shifts, but this has now extended to 10-11 hours. Additionally, running buses on long-distance routes has contributed to this enhancement.
An official from BMTC remarked that the increased presence of buses on the roads benefits both the public and corporations alike. The extension of general shifts, coupled with payment for overtime work for the crew, has led to a more efficient utilization of vehicles. Furthermore, the introduction of newly inducted e-buses by private operators has allowed for extended operating hours.
The official elaborated that operating buses on long-distance routes exceeding 50-60 kilometres has facilitated optimal vehicle utilization. Routes such as NICE Road operations from BIEC to Electronics City and suburban routes have also played a significant role in maximizing fleet size utilization. BMTC has the capacity to operate buses within a 25-kilometer radius from BBMP limits.
In the past year, the number of vehicles in the city surged from 5.06 million to nearly 10.2 million. Despite this substantial increase, the BMTC fleet size has not experienced a significant rise, currently standing at 6,100 buses, including the newly introduced e-buses.
The escalating traffic congestion on the roads poses a significant challenge for public transport providers as it directly affects operations. Severe congestion leads to trip cancellations, heightened fuel consumption, and places added stress on bus crew members. The official recollected that approximately 15 years ago, each bus used to cover 220 kilometres a day when vehicle numbers were lower. However, the rising traffic density has adversely impacted operational efficiency.
Various traffic bottlenecks in the city, including Central Silk Board, Hebbal, Tin Factory, Sarakki, Gorguntepalya, among others, also impede operations.
In 2019, a priority lane was designated for BMTC buses from Central Silk Board to KR Pura, spanning a stretch of 17 kilometres. The project incurred an expenditure of over Rs 140 million. However, these priority lanes were replaced by Namma Metro's Blue Line following the commencement of construction work on ORR by BMRCL in 2020. Despite BBMP's longstanding proposals to construct bus priority lanes on ten major corridors, the project remains confined to paper.
