BMTC will get 4,000 new buses to meet increased demand

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will get 4,000 new buses in two years.

The transport department was planning to strengthen its existing fleet of 6,000 buses to cater to the increasing demand for public transport in the wake of initiatives like the Bus Day, transport minister R Ashoka said on Monday.

A survey had established that the number of autos, taxis, cars and motorbikes on roads had come down due to the efficient mass transportation services being provided by BMTC, he claimed.

“More than 50% employees in the IT industry use mass transport,” he said. “To make buses more popular, we are introducing internet and television facilities in Volvo buses going to BIAL as a pilot project,” he said.

Ashoka said the government was aware of problems being faced by ambulances while attending to emergencies. “We have been apprised of the various problems faced by ambulances when they take serious patients to hospitals. We are coming up with a master plan to facilitate free movement of ambulances even in heavy traffic,” he said.

“I will soon convene a meeting of officials concerned for finding solutions to this problem,” he said.