Bangalore Bus

By Arnav Mishra Chief-In-Editor 3/7/2021

The Bangalore Bus System is one of the primary modes of transportation connecting all parts of the city and the suburbs. The intercity buses are also very famous.

The network becomes primary because there are only 2 modes of public transport operated by the BMTC but Cabs, Auto-Rickshaws and Rickshaws are avalible but very costly and people understand Global Warming. 

The metro is another option but has a bad connection to the city. This was soon realized and the phase 2 was inaugurated in 2017. The construction is booming but until it not built, bus is the leader.

History & Types of buses

 In 1997 the Bangalore Transport Service or BTS was formed. It was opened with a few bus services. The bus services soon gained popularity and started to face problems 

of overcrowing then this over time became a BRT system. Today all types of buses operate. Heres the list

General: The regular Non-AC buses with a blue-white colour scheme. (Now all Non-AC buses come under this category)

Samartha: Green Coloured newly bought buses replacing the older ones.

Suvarna: Similar fare to ordinary buses serving important feeder routes, painted in red or green/white scheme. Now merged with the regular ones with blue-white colour.

BIG 10: Suvarna class buses with special green and bottle green livery plying on 12 major corridors towards the central commercial district. These buses are numbered with a G prefix. Now same livery as the general ones.

BIG Circle: Suvarna class buses with special white colored BIG Circle livery. These buses ply on inner and outer ring roads . Buses are numbered with a C prefix or a K prefix. Now same livery as the general ones.

Atal Sarige: Low fare buses painted with Indian tri-colour livery.

Vajra: Air conditioned Volvo buses painted in blue livery (earlier red) running on important routes serving the IT companies and major residential areas.

Vayu Vajra: Blue coloured (Earlier green/red) Volvo buses operated in 12 routes connecting to Kempegowda International Airport. Free Wi-Fi access is provided to the commuters in these buses.

Marcopolo AC and Corona AC: Air conditioned buses with lower fare than Vajra services plying on select routes.(Marcopolo AC & Corona AC is now out of service )

Metro Feeder: Special buses running on 18 routes as feeder network to the Metro stations

Hop On Hop Off: This service was introduced for sightseeing in Bengaluru. It covers a route connecting about twenty landmarks of great historic, religious and scientific significance.(no service now)

Bus Stations

The three major bus stations are 

1. Kempegowda Bus Station, Majestic

2. K. R. Market

3. Shivajinagar

Other major stations include

1. Chandra Layout West

2. Shantinagar, Central

3. Jayanagar, South

4. Banashankari, South

5. J P Nagar', South

6. BTM Layout, South East

7. Vijaynagar, West

8. Malleswaram, North West

9. Yeshwantpur, North West

10. Domlur, East

11. Kadugodi, East

12. Hebbal, North

13. Vidyaranyapura, North

14. Srinagara, South West

15. Rajarajeshwari Nagar , South West

16. Basaveshwara Nagar , West

17. Yelahanka, North

18. Koramangala'

Smart Card

The Smart Card was Introduced in June 2016 the card itself costs 5 INR (0.25 AED & 0.069 $) and can be filled with upto 10000 INR (505 AED & 137 $).

Every bus is eqquiped with a card tapping machine in which people tap on entering and exiting the bus. Fares start from 5 INR (0.25 AED & 0.069 $).

Bus Day 

On every 4th of the month its a Bus Day which encourages all residents to use public transport. It is to observe the changes which can be brought in 

the city in trying to respect environment, traffic situation, health of individuals perception.

Bus Lane 

The Bus Lane was used on the Outer Ring Road. As known it cut travel times on bus by a lot. Seeing this, more people have thought to use the bus.

A Real Success.