BMTC to phase out Metro feeder services?

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) plans to gradually phase out feeder services to the ‘Namma Metro’ temporarily due to lack of patronage. The corporation may re-introduce the feeder services once Phase 1 works are completed. The BMTC, before the inauguration of Metro train services, had deployed a fleet of buses to cater to the demands of commuters. But now it is finding difficult to run the service as not more than 2 or 3 commuters travel in each bus even during peak hours. More than the cost, the BMTC feels, it is not viable to run the buses empty even in busy hours. “The corporation does not mind running feeder buses even if there are 15-16 passengers in each bus but certainly not for 2-3 persons,” said Srinivasan, Managing Director of BMTC.He told Express that the idea of having feeder services is to facilitate the commuters of Metro train. Now it is found that there are not many passengers for feeder buses. Besides, Byappanahalli Metro Station is not a work centre because of which there are no regular commuters in these buses. People may start using feeder services if the Metro train service is extended up to Peenya or other places where there are big chunks of workers. In view of this, the BMTC has started phasing out the feeder services at many places. It is also running feeder services from far off places like Majestic and Banashankari since many people are flocking M G Road and Byappanahalli stations for a ‘jolly ride’ in Metro trains. “The feeder services are being withdrawn from most parts of the city. We are hopeful of reintroducing them once Phase 1 works are over so that it will be more effective,” Srinivasan said.Meanwhile, around 9am on Tuesday, there were hardly a dozen people in three coaches of the metro train, a commuter told Express.