By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
Bus commuters, civil society members and volunteers marked World Car-Free Day in Bengaluru on Monday by calling for urgent investment in the city’s public transport, especially buses.
Under the banner of the nationwide ‘Double the Bus’ campaign, gatherings were organised at Jal Vayu Vihar (Kammanahalli) and Agara (HSR) bus stops, where participants held placards, interacted with citizens and pressed policymakers to prioritise buses as the backbone of urban mobility.
The citizen-led campaign, which ran across Saturday, Sunday and Monday, was simultaneously held in multiple cities including Chennai, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune and Kochi, according to volunteers. In Bengaluru, around a hundred commuters took part across key arterial bus routes, reinforcing the demand for doubling the number of buses to ensure equitable, reliable and sustainable transport.
According to campaign organisers, 81% of the city’s mass commuters rely on BMTC buses, with an average daily ridership of over 42 lakh. “Despite this dependence, commuters routinely face overcrowding, delays and long waits due to inadequate fleet size,” said Sachin Pandith, volunteer, HSR Community Task Force.
“Buses are the lifeline of Bengaluru, but passengers struggle every day with cramped travel and unpredictable schedules. Doubling the number of buses will not only make journeys safer and more affordable but also help reduce congestion and pollution in the city,” he added.
Campaigners stressed that strengthening bus fleets is critical to achieving the goals of sustainable mobility, especially as the city grapples with rising private vehicle numbers and worsening traffic congestion. They urged the state government and BMTC to increase budgetary allocations for public transport, modernise fleets and adopt policies that put buses at the centre of urban planning.
