[sustran] Low-fare bus service for poor in poor shape

[Vinay Baindur]

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/low-fare-bus-service-for-poor-in-poor-shape/236369.html

*Low-fare bus service for poor in poor shape*

 *By Express News Service
03 Jan 2011 03:36:38 AM IST*



BANGALORE: The state government has not kept its promise to improve the
lowfare bus service that it had introduced for economically weaker sections
in May 2009.Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Transport Minister R Ashok
had launched Atal Sarige bus service to mark the Bharatiya Janata Party
government's one year in the state. The fares of the buses are half of the
ordinary fare. These buses provide connectivity to areas populated by
economically weaker sections of the society.The Bangalore Metropolitan
Transport Corporation (BMTC) had introduced 25 Atal Sarige buses in 2009.
The plans were to add more buses and more routes. At the launch of the
service, the chief minister had promised that the scope of the service would
be expanded at the second anniversary of the government. However, no action
followed that promise. Neither any new bus nor any new route has been
added.BMTC Managing Director Syed Zameer Pasha told Express that the
proposal to expand the scope of service was still in discussion as there had
been significant increase in price of diesel as well as labour cost.
Further, he said the bus service was a part of the BMTC's corporate social
responsibility. He said as the finances were not supported by the
government, they had to work out a feasible action plan. A BMTC official
said till now there had been no communication regarding the matter from the
state.The buses are in a bad condition. A few seats have become totally
unusable. Further, the service is erratic and unreliable.Some of the routes
on which Atal Sarige was introduced are:Avalahalli BDA LayoutBanashankari
bus stand, SrinagarRamakrishna Ashram, GangondanahalliSirsi Circle. The fare
for the route is `4.
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