Now, use common mobility cards in bus

BANGALORE: The State Transport Department is better than that of Singapore and the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is introducing various services of international standards, Minister for Home and Transport R Ashok said on Sunday.Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony for a modern bus station at ISRO layout here, the minister said that BMTC is all set to pioneer the use of common mobility card soon.The tender process is on and the commuters will get the cards soon as there is always a complaint the bus conductors do not give the change which is written on the backside of the tickets or commuters forget to collect the change. “Through this system, all these problems will be solved. We have also introduced ICE (Information, Communication and Entertainment) on Wheels, which offers internet, videos, email services and air flight information on BMTC Volvo bus,” the minister said.Circular Rail“We are ten years ahead when compared to the transport departments of other states,” he observed.“There is a plan to connect all city railway routes and set up a circular rail around the city by connecting Yeshwantpur, K R Puram and Kengeri.We have already given land to the Railway Department for this purpose and the cost of the project is estimated to be `500 crore. We are ready to give `250 crore more, if needed,” Ashok gave details.