Save Bus Priority Lane movement gains traction

NT Correspondent

The recent reports that the bus priority lane on the Outer Ring Road may be scrapped has caused alarm among transport activists and generated public support.

On Saturday activists painted on the Outer Ring Road, with a clear message to “Protect the Bus Lane”, demanding protection and expansion of Bus Priority Lanes in Bengaluru city.

The event was organised following reports that representatives from companies located on the Outer Ring Road are urging BBMP to reconsider the Bus Priority Lanes. The 22-km bus lane between Silk Board and K.R. Puram was set up in 2019 to improve the smooth movement of BMTC buses on this stretch, and encourage more people to take up public transport.

Bengaluru has been experiencing very critical air quality for the last many years. Greenpeace India’s recent report found that the annual average of PM2.5 and PM10 exceeded WHO revised standards in Bengaluru. The previous source apportionment studies identified the transportation sector as one of the major sources of air pollution in the city.

Though Bengaluru Metropolitan Traffic Corporation fleet which comprises just 0.15% of the total vehicle population, it helps transport 50% of the city’s population. Over the past two year, the Bus Priority Lane on ORR had reduced travel times, improved predictability, increased the service supply along the corridor, and also resulted in improved bus ridership and revenue.

Instead of encouraging employees to adopt public transport, the tech companies located on the ORR stretch are trying to reduce the possibilities of mass transit systems. Their opposition to the BPL threatens the availability of an accessible, efficient and sustainable means of transport for many Bengaluru citizens.

Commenting on the importance of efficient public transport, Avinash Chanchal, Campaign Manager at Greenpeace India says: “The private vehicles dominated mobility is putting us in a dangerous position. There is an urgent need to bring a paradigm shift in the present transportation sector. An efficient public transport system, with a focus on buses, can help us reduce the air pollution as well as the congestion in the city.”

“It is unfortunate to see that instead of asking to strengthen the public bus system, the representatives from companies are asking to reconsider the Bus Priority Lane that has been helping to reduce the travel time, congestion and improve the ridership along with the corridor. The authorities must take concrete steps to make the BPL permanent feature along with expanding the current bus priority lane to other road networks and improve the bus operation in the city,” added Chanchal.