Commuters speak their mind on comforts

BANGALORE: How ''comfortable'' are commuters and Task Force officials ever since the BMTC''s Commuter Comfort Task Force (CCTF) was constituted in October 2003? Three visits to residential areas, at least eight in-house meetings, 15 minds working together and truckloads of troubled commuters. Now, the minds are speaking out.
The CCTF has held meetings in Basaveshwaranagar, Peenya and Rajarajeshwarinagar so far.The problems enlisted by residents include bus driver and conductor indiscipline, buses not stopping at designated stops, need for more buses and schedules, restructured routes and upgradation of bus shelters.
About 90 per cent of the problems have been tackled. But while the comfort levels of commuters have increased, the larger city issues concerning BMTC have not been aired at these CCTF meetings, say members. With just a month left for the CCTF to send a formal report to the BMTC, complete with deliberations and recommendations, meetings with commuters in residential areas have ceased for the time being.
"A majority of commuters bring out problems pertaining only to their areas, instead of looking at city-level issues. The CCTF will have to take these up," CCTF report in-charge Vittal Kumar said.
In-house meetings are being held to tackle the larger issues — Connectivity, Comforts and City Decongestion. Improvement of interiors and banning parking around 100 meters from bus stops to avoid congestion are the other recommendations.
Task Force co-chairman Muralidhar Rao said: "Adding more buses is not the solution. There is a need for connectivity — a bus every three minutes on trunk routes during peak hours, with 10-minute waiting period in the morning and half-hour at night."
Even before the report is submitted, the CCTF will have to decide between the ''Grid system'' (shift from destination to direction orientation) and ''Metro system'' on dedicated lanes, as possible solutions.
The Grid system may provide connectivity but commuters will have to change buses to reach destinations, something they have clearly stated as a ''problem''. They are in favour of direct bus routes, instead.
According to CCTF chairman R.V. Bhosekar, an investigation is yet to be conducted on what ''comfort'' commuters expect.
"The final solution will be a combination of the grid-direct bus system. Commuter comforts like destination information, GPS, low-level footboards, improved pass system are also under scrutiny." CCTF meetings may also be held in Nandini Layout, Kalyannagar and Bannerghatta Road.