BENGALURU: After KSRTC, BMTC is wooing tourists to increase its revenue, the cash-strapped utility on Thursday decided to introduce AC services on three routes.
Among them is Bengaluru Darshini, a sight-seeing service, which was suspended during the second wave of Covid-19.
Bengaluru Darshini will operate from Fridays to Sundays and cover tourist spots like
Iskcon
temple, Vidhana Soudha, Tipu’s Palace, Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple, Bull Temple, Dodda Ganapathi Temple,
Karnataka Silk Emporium
, MG Road, Ulsoor Lake, Cubbon Park,
Sir M Visvesvaraya Museum
and
Karnataka Art Gallery
.
AC buses will run on two other routes: Kempegowda Bus Station to Bannerghatta National Park (V-365) and HSR Layout BDA complex to
Wonderla
(V-226). This is other than the newly introduced route of Kempegowda Bus Station to Wonderla (V-226). Wonderla is one of largest amusement and water theme parks located off Bidadi.
BMTC’s daily ridership has reduced from 36 lakh in February 2020 to 18 lakh now. Of 860 AC Volvo buses, less than 50 are operational now. The demand for AC buses is also low due to work from home arrangement for many professionals, less flight movements and the virus scare. BMTC is now operating 4,800 of its 6,500 buses due to less demand.