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Red board and Black board - do we still require this classification?
Written By ss87 - 5 February, 2011
Today's Bangalore is quite different from what it was 10 years back. The diameter of the city at that time was lesser than what the radius of the city is at present.
BMTC started operating Red board routes as to providing service to areas above 10-12 kms from the city centre that time. These buses had higher fares compared to the black board to dissuade the short ditance commuters from boarding. Some had limited stops(Eg: "H" series as in 2H,36H etc).
Today there is no distinction between Old bangalore and new bangalore. City had just grown in size. BMTC has reduced the cateogories of buses to AC and Non-AC with respect to fares. but with respecto to services??
The distinction of Black board and red board is one major criteria followed today even in deciding new routes-actually same becoming a constrain in operations. EG: There isnt any ordinary between Banashankari and C.V.Raman Nagar-reason-Inner ring road routes being 201 they want a 201 to run-but C.V.Raman Nagar has 314 series operating and same is Red-board. So no connection-the only connector is Volvo or Marcopolo AC.
This issue is not only in that route. Same issue took place in S-1 and S-2 operations because BMTC considered them black boards and operated only AC services.
Today the new buses have got LED boards-a common man will not be able to identify whether a bus is Red board or black board-the light emitted is going to be the same. Also a person who wants to travel in red board have to pay more despite the fares being same-reason-thats BMTC rule!!
The worst affected in this case are area like Guruppanpalya, St. Johns, Sarakki gate, Geddalhalli/Mekhri circle,Gorguntepalya etc. The black board buses operating in these areas (161,168,98G) etc are so few that people have to travel by red board only.
Again as case where commuters have to fight for justice
COMMENTS
shashi kumar y - 8 February, 2011 - 04:56
Sir, with the 500 or city bus pass you can travel in the ALL buses except volvo till city limits(city pass holds good)
shashi kumar y - 7 February, 2011 - 05:35
@Naveen
Sir, the BMTC will never change or the they will change. The officials are just narrow minded.
If I go by you, that should have happended by this time looking from the demand point of view.
If the BMTC officials if allot one of its present official to go through this praja, thats more than enough. They will get more than what they need .
Red Board and Black Board Buses
R V Raja Rao - 7 February, 2011 - 11:46
The difference between the Black and the Red buses are based on their areas of operations, the Black one operates within city Limits and the Red one operates beyond city limits. The BMTC issues bus pass for Rs. 500/- which can be used within City Limits for one calendar month and another for Rs. 660/- to travel in all City/ Sub- urban/Pushpak/Suvarna services for one calendar month. The holders of City Bus Pass are permitted to travel in Black Board buses only. The City Limits /areas are to be redefined based on recent BBMP sketch.
idontspam - 7 February, 2011 - 13:26
Looks like some parts of BMTC changed and other parts got left behind. BMTC is becoming a complicated animal & if these systems are not simplified the day is not far off when it will become unmanagable and unwieldy
Naveen - 6 February, 2011 - 03:54
ss87 - the route numbering (such as black /red /AC, etc) all needs revamping, no doubt.
From what I was given to understand, a major exercise will be undertaken once Metro ph-1 becomes operational in 2012 or 2013. Till then, this old /outdated numbering might continue, I guess.
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