Bangalore metro-bus passes will have to wait

As the city gears up for its Metro ride, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on January 24 for the metro bus transit (MBT) pass for commuters’ seamless transit.

A common daily pass for both BMTC buses and the Metro will be issued, after the Metro competes its Phase I and until all reaches become commercially operational.

“State home and transport minister R Ashoka will be present when the MoU is being signed by directors of both parties on Monday, after the first trail run of Metro up to MG Road,” said BLY Chavan, spokesperson of BMRCL.

BMTC director (security and vigilance) Arun J Chakravarthy said, “Keeping in mind the population that travels largely by BMTC buses, we fixed two prices for the common daily pass. For the non-air-conditioned bus, the rate  would be Rs70 and for air-conditioned buses and the Metro, the pass tariff would be Rs110.”

BMRCL had given estimates of passenger load on Reach One route from Byappanahalli to MG Road via CMH Road, Indiranagar, Ulsoor and Trinity Circle. It studied people’s bus utility patterns on these routes. According to sources, the ratio of profit-sharing between the two bodies might differ from time to time, depending on certain clauses.

The BMTC is also shaping up the feeder bus service for Metro train users around each  station on Reach One, which is on the verge of completion.