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The new service will skip low-passenger stops and focus only on key points, using flyovers wherever possible.
Unlike the usual non-AC buses, this new service—expected to launch under a new brand—will charge slightly higher fares. (Photo: The South First)
The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is getting ready to introduce a new fleet of non-air-conditioned express buses aimed at long-distance commuters.
These buses will make fewer stops and use flyovers to reduce travel time, as reported by Moneycontrol.
This upcoming service is expected to launch under a new brand name. While it won’t be air-conditioned, the fares will be slightly higher than regular BMTC buses due to the faster and more direct routes.
Shakti Scheme Still Applies
Importantly, the new express buses will continue to support the state’s Shakti scheme, allowing women to travel for free just like on other BMTC buses across Karnataka.
“We’re planning routes that avoid unnecessary halts. For example, buses to Chikkaballapur take longer now because of too many stops. With the new service, we’ll only stop at key locations and use flyovers,” a BMTC official explained, as per Hindustan Times.
Areas such as Attibele, Harohalli, Devanahalli, and Nelamangala are also being considered for the new routes based on current demand and passenger data analysis.
Bike Taxi Services Suspended Across Karnataka
The launch of this new BMTC service comes at a time when bike taxis have been banned across Karnataka. Major ride-hailing apps like Ola, Uber, and Rapido have removed bike taxi options from their platforms following a Karnataka High Court directive.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy confirmed the move, stating: “The High Court had declared bike taxis illegal three months ago. After giving 12 weeks’ time, the aggregators are now required to follow the court order.”
The division bench, led by Acting Chief Justice V Kameshwar Rao and Justice Sreenivas Harish Kumar, dismissed the appeals made by Uber, Ola, and Rapido, effectively halting all bike taxi operations in the state.
The ban has caused concern among daily commuters and gig workers, many of whom depended on bike taxis for quick travel or income. The BMTC’s new express buses aim to partially fill this gap by offering faster, more efficient alternatives for long routes.
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c…Read More
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c… Read More
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