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Bus services - a different approach
Written By murali772 - 1 June, 2008
Traffic Bangalore BMTC BMLTA Airlift Analysis public transport
"Vayu Vajra I am told is very convenient - for 150 rupees - starts from Aishwarya stores - supposed to be at every half an hour - but that's not the case. I was told today morning that they have one at 3.40pm but when I reached I realised it got cancelled and the next one was only at 6.40 PM.
Luckily, they had this cheaper alternative called 'Suvarna' for 80 rupees at 3.50 PM and I am now on my way!! The driver fellow has promised to reach in 90 minutes - but I doubt it; since he is stopping at every stop shouting airport airport airport airport..... ."
The above was the posting by a member of the 'savekoramangala' yahoogroup about the BMTC's services to the airport. And, this is not the only one - there are others equally critical. It is clear the service is just falling apart, indications of which were available from the first person accounts posted here earlier also.
In total contrast is the approach of "Airlift - Airport Transfer Services", which is appended in italics below. A reading of the two clearly brings out the difference between how a government agency approaches a task, and how a private operator converts it into an opportunity.
Many members have been commenting on BMTC's image problem. Experiences like the ones detailed above only go to reinforce it. I have dealt with enough government organisations and agencies to state almost categorically that, even if individuals within an organisation want to improve things, there are too many constraints the way they are set up, and eventually there is only that much that an individual manage.
Now, it is no secret that BMTC's VOLVO operations have been incurring huge losses. The BIAL services are expected add to that, and in no small measure. Knowing this well ahead, if they still took it on, it was only to prevent the private sector getting its foot in, because they feared that it will then be difficult for them to contain the private sector's spread to other areas.
I have always held that the most cost effective way to easing the city's traffic problems is by having professionalised bus services, which can happen only by facilitating the entry of Corporates like TATAs into the field. Now, why not get TATAs to take over the high-end services across the city (including to the airport), since anyway it is a losing proposition for BMTC? But, why should TATAs take it on? CSR - to atone for the damage that their NANO is going to cause to Indian cities, which none less than Dr Thomas Friedman has termed as the biggest disaster facing them. The government can do its best to facilitate TATA's operations by imposing congestion taxes on two & four-wheelers in inner areas of the city; giving priority for movement of their buses (as also those of BMTC) including by closing certain narrow stretches for private vehicles during peak hours; facilitating switch to NANO of all autos operating within BBMP limits over a 3-month period, etc. The government could also announce that if within 6 months, the situation does not improve (movement speed increasing from the present 10 KMPH in the inner city during peak hours to atleast double that), they will start work on the BRT system, which will then force the car owners to leave their vehicles at home, since with reduced road space for them, car movement will naturally become much slower.
If put across in this manner, and with the confidence that the name TATA generally inspires, as compared to the government owned BMTC, I expect the car/ two-wheeler owners will respond positively, and will start switching to using the buses atleast for commuting, that in itself making a huge difference to the city.
And, with all the facilitation, and TATA's general efficiency, the operations need not continue to make losses. As such, if the end of the 2nd year, they start making substantial profits, one or two other Corporates can also be roped in for large cities like Bangalore, and even the 'Janata' services opened out to them, all regulated by the State Land Transport Authority.
Public bus transport services are too vital an infrastructure area to be bogged down by conventional approaches which have not produced solutions.
Airlift - Airport Transfer Services
We are starting a Airport Transfer Service for Bangalore. Since the
New airport is far from the city and we feel that Airport Transfers
will become very expensive for the Passengers and there will be a
definite problem to commute to and from the New Airport . We are
introducing our service to make airport Transfers less expensive and
still provide the required luxury while taking customers to and from
the airport. We will pick up the customers from the Airlift pickup
points and drop them to the airport and vice versa bring them to the
city from the airport.
Unique features of the Airlift Vehicle
-Airlift will be 6 seat air conditioned Toyota Innova. Individual Bucket seats for all 5 passengers.
-Airlift will have a LCD screen on each passenger seat for personalized
entertainment system, these screens will show 5 channels with different
contents.
-Airlift has ample overhead covered and secured luggage space.
-Airlift will be Wi-Fi enabled for passengers to browse the internet on the screens and as well as with their laptops.
-Airlift will be driven by our Auto Pilots who will be in uniform and
well trained to communicate and present themselves to the customers.
-Airlift will also be tracked by GPS system to ensure efficient on time
services and tracking every vehicle to make sure of complete security
of passengers.
Airlift is being designed to provide complete comfort and help the passenger to use their commuting time productively.
Pricing: We feel that the Normal City Cab from or to the Airport will
cost about 750/- to 1000/- one way. Our service has been priced at Rs.
300/- one way and moreover Return journey for to and from the airport
will be Rs. 450/- per person. That is nearly 70% saving on the Airport
Transfers vis-à-vis a regular City Cab.
How to avail the service: Book Tickets online on our website
www.airliftonline. com through Credit or Debit Card. Pickup the Prepaid
Coupons in any of the Retail Stores and call 9845047788 to make a
booking or use the same on www.airliftonline. com
Support: SMS AIRLIFT to 54545. Our support team will get in touch with you ASAP. Call our 24/7 call center number 98450 47788 .
Logon to our website www.airliftonline. com for any queries
Muralidhar Rao
PS: Associated reading - Better bussing ...
COMMENTS
George E Matthew - 1 June, 2008 - 17:23
First of all, the government is not in a position to enforce regulation effectively. Powerful vested interests will hijack it to serve their own interests.We have learnt from the BIAL episode that even if a well reputed company runs/constructs a public infrastructure project, they will care only for their onw short term profit-not for the welfare of the city.
BIAL was built by companies that are perhaps the best in the world. Despite that, just look at the shortcomings detailed by Mr Devesh Aggarwal. Hence we cannot conclude that if reputed companies take over bus services, there will be no problems. No amount of government regualtion can solve this problem.
Just look at the huge number of letters to the editor criticising BIAL in Sunday's Deccan Herald. There was only one letter of praise-and that was not for BIAL, but for the Vajra Vayu Service. There are clearly many happy customers. In fact, even on the trip that I blogged about where many people missed their flights, nobody had any criticism of the BMTC.
The problem is traffic jams going to the airport, not the BMTC services. If Tata took over, the bus would still get stuck in traffic. The solution lies in decongesting roads, not privatising bus services.
Incidently, we last a few mintues at Mekhri circle as we were blocked by a private bus(unorganized sector-not like Tata) that picked up people from the middle of the road.
In short, there is not need to interfere with BMTC as it is clearly functioning well. I travel on it daily as it is my main means of transport. I have used it since my student days and it has steadily improved.
A state land transport authority coudl easy get corrupted/subject to political interference and end up functioning like the RTO. BMTC/KSRTC are organizations with far better credibility/customer service/efficiency than RTO. Government has failed in regulation, but has succeeded in running these services. In future, that is what must be followed-run good services, avoid attempts to regulate as that only leads to corruption.
tsubba - 1 June, 2008 - 17:38
BMTC can't really do a lot more.
silkboard - 2 June, 2008 - 02:41
Murali sir, little that we have talked, it should be clear that I am not really a socialist. So do look at this comment without that bias.
Let me quote parts of your post - "government can do its best to facilitate TATA's operations by imposing congestion taxes ... in inner areas of the city; giving priority for movement of ... buses ... closing certain narrow stretches for private vehicles during peak hours ..."
When you say things like this, you are mixing two things in one stroke - bring private operators (TATA), and push policy/enforcement changes to make buses move faster.
As we have discussed to death, for the middle-class to use the buses in droves, you first have to make the buses move faster, and reliable.
We know we need either of these two to make buses move faster.
- Managing road spaces via enforcement - to segregate traffic either by size, speed or distance its going
- Just do some version of BRTS. Semi dedicated lanes, or gadgetry on traffic lights to let busses through
Now, don't go into the specifics of above two. But how will getting TATA in change anything on above two? I would say that having TATA in the mix when working on above two items is risky - private party will influence policy matters to their advantage (see BIAL and concession agreement for example). Policy should be set in place before private operators are allowed in.
So right now, we know BMTC alone can't do any better by itself, because, speeding up buses will involve BBMP/BDA (road space owner), BMRDA (town planner) and Traffic Police (traffic enforcer) in addition to BMTC. There would be more - BESCOM (if doing electric buses), BWSSB (if construction requires moving or covering pipes/drains).
I would use all our energy to push for BMLTA to have more teeth and say. That comes before anything else. Without BMLTA, only "island" efforts happen. BMTC will keep getting Volvos, that are bleeding money. BBMP will keep widening roads to create more free parking space, and get magic boxes done that will get filled with cars. BDA will do flyovers that will move jams around and kill pedestrians. Not that these bodies don't talk to each other, but this "silo" approach to public transport needs to be addressed first. Period.
Once we have buses moving faster, then, we will see if rolling stock operator (BMTC) is the problem. But right now, its lower on priority. And I will say that jumbling up the BMLTA like policy issue (integrated measures to speeden up the buses) and privatization of rolling stick operator - this mixed message will find fewer takers.
sanchitnis - 2 June, 2008 - 04:13
The problem of collecting the passangers for Northbound journey arises due to poor frequency and low reliability (due to traffic or whatever). Here are my suggestions:
1. Use minibuses or even innovas insterad of Suvarna and increase the frequency to one mini-bus atleast every 10 minutes.
2. Create a buffer pool of minibuses at TTMCs where traffic is higher so that as soon as the minibus is full, it is sent even if it is ahead of scheduled departure time. Also in case of traffic jams when returning buses are full, starting time does not get affected.
Those who want to travel by Volvo at least will have a reliable backup transport.
Sanjay Chitnis
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