Reduce bus fare for affordable mobility

Shaheen Shasa & Vinay K Sreenivasa

World over, it is recognised that the high cost of travel is excluding the working class population from access to mobility and opportunities to better their lives. Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike (BBPV) since its inception has been vigorously campaigning for fare reduction for BMTC buses through campaigns. However, all demands for affordable mobility for common people have fallen on deaf ears and successive governments have refused to make budget allocations for BMTC to reduce fares and provide affordable mobility.

After the pandemic, people are facing a severe economic crisis. Paying high bus fares is even more of a burden post the pandemic. In its efforts to highlight the plight of the working people, BBPV organized a public hearing on affordability of bus services in Bengaluru this month. Domestic workers, pourakarmikas, health workers, students, farmers, senior citizens and many others attested to the economic distress they are in and how access to livelihood, medical care, education etc. are all severely impacted by high bus fares and inadequate services. Some commuters shared how if they didn’t have to spend on bus pass they could buy more milk or an egg a day or some vegetables for children.

Many also referred to reduction of fares in Mumbai in 2019 and introduction of free travel for women in Tamil Nadu and other states and asked why the Government of Karnataka is not able to implement similar measures in Bangalore and Karnataka.

The jury consisted of mobility experts, academics, social activists and a people’s representative. They listened to the testimonies and made several observations and recommendations to improve mobility and the socio-economic conditions of the millions of people struggling to make ends meet in a wealthy city that they make tick.

Observations and recommendations
Some of the observations and recommendations of the jury are: The social and economic costs of high ticket fares and service gaps in bus services are not properly understood. These have a multi-layered impact affecting livelihoods, health care, and education. This should become a concern of not just the transport department, but also education and social welfare departments as well.

People using public transport are doing the city a public service by not contributing to traffic congestion, pollution or accidents in the city. Instead of compensating them for this service, we are making them pay a high price for it.

Service gaps and poor quality of service and buses are extremely pronounced in poorer neighbourhoods where marginalised communities live whereas well-to-do areas often have better service and better quality of buses.

Despite the much higher ridership in buses as compared to Metro, the Government of Karnataka is prioritising and spending more money on Metro that is used by fewer people and ignoring the investment needed in public bus services.

The stage fare scheme of BMTC prices of short trips is disproportionately high. Student passes, being route specific, limit mobility for students too.

High ticket fares and service gaps in BMTC are a result of treating BMTC as a for-profit entity. Only profitable routes are operated. To solve these problems, BMTC should be seen as a public service and not a corporate body.

Plan of action
The report prepared by the Jury will be submitted to BMTC and the government. The petition, demanding budget allocations for BMTC, will be submitted to the chief minister and transport minister. BBPV also plans to meet the opposition leaders to impress upon them the need to understand people’s woes and represent them with the government on behalf of the people.

We are currently carrying out a signature campaign across communities and localities in the city with the following demands:
• Reduce fare by half for general public.
• Free travel for women, transgender community and senior citizens.
• Free students pass allowing travel across the city and not just specific routes.
• Additional routes and schedules in places with inadequate services.

(Shaheen Shasa & Vinay K Sreenivasa, are founding members of BBPV, an advocacy group. This is adapted from the group’s public hearing findings.)