Bengaluru: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has objected to the steps of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) to operate the Vajra AC bus on the outskirts of the city.
The source said BMTC had planned to operate 11 bus ac on the route Yelahanka-Dodaballapur (V-285) and five buses at the V-285MB Cauvery Bhavan-D Cross (Doddaballapur).
BMTC has now written to Transport Minister B Sriramulu complained that the KSRTC did not allow it to operate this bus.
“Minister of Transportation on January 6 instructed us to increase the number of air conditioning buses on the edge.
The AC bus is being operated at public comfort, but the KSRTC has objected to the service,” said a senior official.
BMTC officials said they had operated the Vajra AC bus to places such as Harohalli, Anecal and Magadi from the city on request.
BMTC is permitted to run a bus within the city limits and a radius of 25 km from the boundaries of the BBMP in all directions.
However, a KSRTC official said: “BMTC operates from Doddaballapur Cross (D Cross) instead of Doddaballapur bus station.
We do not have the opposition to the BMTC AC bus.
Our bus stops limited and they stop at almost all the stops.
We also do not operate the bus AC directly between Doddaballapur and Bengaluru.
In fact, the structure of the KSRTC and BMTC bus rates is also different.
“BMTC officials said D Cross was within a 25 km radius of the BBMP limit.
“They have filed objections because our rates are cheaper,” he added.
With Namma Metro and Suburban Rail developed, many passengers say BMTC must be allowed to operate to the nearest district.
Many passengers choose BMTC because there are more generations and cheaper rates.
Tejaswi K, a passenger, said: “BMTC must increase the frequency to places such as Bidadi, Harohalli, Maralawadi, Manthanabelae, Dabbaguli and Magadi.
It also has to operate the bus to the city of Ramanagara.
Back in 2004-05, even Devanahalli, Doddaballapur, Doddaballapur, Bidadi and aneccant only have KSRTC buses from majestic.
“However, BMTC officials said they did not have a plan immediately to expand services to the periphery.
“Our focus is to provide better frequency services within the boundary of BBMP,” said an official.