Stuck in traffic jams? Blame it on BMTC

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Bangalore is synonymous with traffic. If you happened to get stuck in your car or bike in places like Silk Board, KR Puram, Marathalli or Outer Ring Road, you are surely to blame for the BMTC and KSRTC buses that take up the whole road and block your path.

Source: Insider from Bangalore

Public transport takes up much less space compared to any personal mobility vehicle, car, two-wheeler. Additionally, mass transit emits far fewer tailpipe emissions per passenger it carries, said Dr. Ashish Verma, head of the IISc Sustainable Transportation Lab, in a conversation with AIM.

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Well, this is true when calculated with a full bus, usually public transport, especially eco-oriented buses which have lower emissions than two-wheelers or cars. Along the same lines, a bus that occupies the space of 2 cars can carry up to 10 cars of people. Note that these are the calculations performed with a full bus, which is not always the case.

There have been so many instances where buses with one or two passengers going around the city take up more space resulting in more traffic.

Source: Deccan Herald

So how does BMTC address this concern, alongside optimizing its buses and routes?

BMTC recently launched Namma BMTC, a passenger information app for phones, under the Indian government’s Nirbhaya program. Developed by MCT Cards & Technology and Amnex Infotechnologies, the app can be used in both Kannada and English and offers full details of bus schedules, routes, stops and other relevant details for public transport .

Bus: the little-known vital transport system

We have a daily ridership of around 30 lakh passengers on the buses, almost six times more than the metros, and we can proudly say that this is the lifeline of Bangalore where people, mainly low-income households income, rely on buses for the daily commute, said AV Surya Sen, Director, IT, BMTC.

In Bangalore, there are currently over a crore of private vehicles on the road, but they are barely capable of carrying another 30,000 passengers. In comparison, there are only 6800 buses in service in Bangalore, which makes the bus population far from the vehicle population in terms of transport services. Thus, according to Sen, blaming traffic volume solely on the number of buses is unfair.

Nevertheless, even with the availability of various modes of transport, buses retain a crucial function. They are not only vital for connectivity and convenience, but also serve as a means of delivering essential services to the public. Buses can complement the higher-level public transportation system while providing distinct benefits.

Additionally, buses are a cost-effective and affordable option, especially for people from low-income households. Therefore, buses contribute to equitable transport accessibility, Verma added.

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AI solves traffic

The Namma BMTC app is an ode to the successful implementation of AI and ML algorithms. The use of ML and AI is essential to deliver effective solutions. The availability of extensive historical and legacy data allows us to make accurate predictions of bus arrival times and create algorithms to determine bus times and locations, Sen added.

Having a comprehensive mobile app that offers a range of functions including real-time tracking, trip planning, identifying nearby bus stops and suggesting optimal travel routes is an important aspect of an information system. However, it is essential to understand that the application itself does not provide a complete solution. It is only part of a larger set of actions and initiatives that need to be taken.

According to Verma, the app will also function in the future as an Automated Fare Collection (AFC) system, enabling mobile ticketing, mobile passes and digital wallets, re-engineering the ticket purchasing and travel process. by bus by introducing digital payment methods.

Compared to other metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi, BMTC is extremely expensive.

However, the government is taking steps to address the issue of affordability, and it is expected that improvements will be made in this regard.

It is important to note that quality of service and affordability are two separate aspects. Urban public transport should be seen as a service rather than a for-profit business, and efforts should be made to improve service conditions while making it more affordable, Verma commented.

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Towards a greener city

According to the 2021 NASSCOM report, Bangalore is the top destination for IT professionals in India with over 1 million people moving to the city every year in search of employment. Now, with employees returning to the office as remote work ends, buses are now in more demand, as well as places to rent.

Public transport promotes sustainability by reducing emissions, improving air quality, easing traffic congestion and promoting social equity. It efficiently transports more passengers, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, reduces pollutants, saves time and money, and provides access to opportunities for those without cars. In addition, in terms of single passenger transport, public transport emits significantly lower levels of tailpipe emissions per passenger.

Public transport is a viable solution to combat global warming and carbon emissions. Prioritizing public transportation and reducing reliance on private vehicles leads to a cleaner environment and a better quality of life, Verma concluded.

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