Bangalore court wants panel on transport alternative

The Bangalore high court on Monday directed the state government to constitute an expert committee headed by the transport secretary, to look into the feasibility of introducing a ‘feeder route-trunk route system’ suggested by a petitioner to the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).

N Parameswaran, a senior citizen, had filed an interlocutory application (IA), proposing a two-tier system — called the feeder route-trunk route system, explaining that it would lessen traffic congestion in the city. Parameswaran had in 2009 filed a PIL on the same grounds. It was disposed of considering the representations made by the transport department.

The court directed the government to constitute an expert committee in four weeks time. The committee will look into the suggestions and submit a report to the court.

Parameswaran had stated that 2,100 routes were operated by BMTC, of which 95% were operated at a frequency of 50 to 90 minutes. This made the services unreliable as it called for long waits, he added.

The solution to the problem was to provide a dependable public transport at a frequency of five to seven minutes. This could be achieved not by increasing the fleet, but by reducing the number of routes, Parameswaran contended.

The number of routes could be reduced by operating a two-tier system, which was the feeder route- trunk route system, Parameswaran argued. For example, if there are 10 destination points in any area, people could come to a common point by a feeder route, and one trunk route can be operated, instead of 10 trunk routes from 10 points. This would give a frequency of five to seven minutes the trunk route as against 50 to 90 minutes.