Student, 21, designs route boards for BMTC to make commute smoother

Bengaluru: Amogh A, a resident of Srinagar, south Bengaluru has cherished Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus rides since childhood. Witnessing the launch of new buses and routes always filled him with excitement. However, as time passed, Amogh noticed a significant issue: The ageing of BMTC route boards, which were becoming increasingly challenging for passengers to read, hampering their commuting experience.In a conversation with TOI, the 21-year-old engineering student of KS School of Engineering and Management highlighted his desire to address the illegibility of BMTC’s route boards. “I wanted to contribute by creating a new board and presenting it to the manager of Banashankari depot of BMTC as a gesture of goodwill. As an enthusiast, it felt like a meaningful way to give back to the community I deeply admire,” he said.Amogh, with his close friends and fellow public transport enthusiasts Yatish Kumar and Rahul, pooled in Rs 500 from their pocket money and crafted a new board for a bus that runs on route 214H, from Banashankari to Gullahatti Kaval. The trio was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiastic reception from the depot manager and crew upon being presented the board on March 1. “They started using it immediately, and witnessing our efforts being put to good use brought us immense joy,” said Amogh.Realising the impracticality of supplying new boards to every BMTC bus, Amogh devised a simple yet effective design. It includes the route number, covered areas, and en-route details, aimed at enhancing passengers’ understanding of the bus routes and making their daily commute easier. “After creating the design, I shared it with BMTC, who have since implemented it on another bus route — 340A — which also serves as route 170G,” he added.On Saturday, Amogh and his friends pitched in to gift another route board to BMTC, this time to 36C. The bus driver and conductor were so happy they’ve clicked photos with the new board placed at the display. “These boards gave BMTC buses a refreshing look, and we’ve asked for more boards in this design so that the old boards can be replaced,” a BMTC official said.In this age of digital boards, Amogh highlighted the importance of clear and legible signage displaying route numbers and bus stops. “The digital LED boards used by BMTC buses are challenging to read during the day because of sunlight glare. Also, scrolling of bus stop names from left to right poses difficulties for senior citizens,” he said. “When digital boards malfunction, BMTC faces challenges in replacing or repairing them.”