SHOULD KARNATAKA GOVERNMENT DEPLOY COSTLY BMTC VOLVO BUSES?
Bangalore is growing young. Now that the Volvo buses adorn the roads and more fleet are on the anvil, India’s Silicon Valley – The Bengaluru is going younger.
There was a furor when in the latter half of 1980s, the then Prime Minister of India; Rajiv Gandhi gave green signal to herald computer-age. Many thought the job opportunity would get dwindled with the programmed computer almost taking away a big share of human job market. Looking back today, we see India stood really benefited out of being computerised.
Akin to that saga, Bangalore deserves the Volvo buses. It is apt to be easily boarded and alighted by the handicapped and the old people. The pneumatic doors are big enough and monitored safely. Karnataka Government should purchase Volvo buses irrespective of the costs involved. Facilities for the poor and downtrodden (Non-A/C) and breathtaking amenities for the executive class (A/C++) may give required facelift to the fleet of Volvo. Equally important, enactment of Transport Rules must get implemented and uncompromisingly acted on.
High frequency of 10-minute ply-service would go a long way in attracting a large chunk of the vehicular public. There should be ‘Circular Volvo’ touching all the main stations and each of these main stations should be deployed with direction-bound buses to take people further inwards. Alighted from Metro or Volvo people should be made able to travel online in another bus, on the same ticket price. For example, either from Metro or Volvo one passenger gets down at Electronic City (station) and from there, he catches another direction-bound Volvo to reach the inner pocket of his stay where Circular Volvo or Metro don’t circulate. What would then be the ticket cost? It should be made minimal and right from the starting base of Metro or Circular Volvo, the whole ticket fare can be had in order to make it combined and lesser in value.
Fares
The cardinal question arises how the fare could be combined and made minimal. The purchasing cost of Volvo or for that matter, the Metro itself is enormously high and the ticket price cannot be rock bottom, considering the fuel consumption and maintenance cost. This can be addressed by attracting more public to the Metro and Volvo. The fare differentiation and comfort of reach and connectivity will make a larger part of the public to use public transport. The more the quantum of commuters the lesser the fare is. Profit does come as a corollary. The present thrust is on Tidy Traffic and Eco-care. This can only be addressed only if economical and comfortable journey facilities are provided.
In the initial period, there might be teething problems and to surmount such snags, an adhoc team has to be established to campaign against traffic woes and to canvass ecosystem. People consciousness and paradigm shift is possible only if concentrated orientation and concerted efforts from the authorities are harnessed to achieve that result. However, high echelons of society such as State administrators, on-duty doctors, celebrities, etc. won’t be able to make it to the public transport. Special Vehicle Road Charges (SVRC), Carbon Emission charges (CO2 ), etc. have to be put into the Rule. Volvo is highly stringent to Euro-III emission standards.
Volvo buses if executed properly can have many benefits on the society.
1) Hygienic atmosphere
2) Better and Controlled Emission Standards
3) Smooth Traffic flow
4) Hybrid Ticket system and minimum fare.
Companies of high staff strength could go for Volvo Staff Bus on contract with BMTC or buses like Parisara Vahini, Suvarana etc. to suit their budgets.
All in All, Volvo buses are a pride of Bangalore
