Does Bangalore need more Volvo buses?

binz · 15th August 2008, 01:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by v1p3r

The Volvo initiative was truly a leap of faith, and I'm glad it worked.

Yup,BMTC guys really pulled this one off well.and now things are only going to get better with the option of getting a BMTC auto for the journey from the bus stop to anywhere in a 4km radius at 40 buck more.

v1p3r · 15th August 2008, 01:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by binz

Yup,BMTC guys really pulled this one off well.and now things are only going to get better with the option of getting a BMTC auto for the journey from the bus stop to anywhere in a 4km radius at 40 buck more.

At 7 bucks a kilometre, it makes more sense to take a regular auto. What's the value addition with this service?

binz · 15th August 2008, 01:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by v1p3r

At 7 bucks a kilometre, it makes more sense to take a regular auto. What's the value addition with this service?

The auto will pick you up at ANY hour.What more value would you like?

Vid6639 · 15th August 2008, 02:00

I don't know if anyone else has mentioned it but I've faced a few problems with a Vayu Vajra from the airport. I need to get to Indian express circle and I know that 4 routes pass by my place. I asked them which 4 are leaving first and no one seems to know.

Then they told me to take one bus which was leaving in 10mins and it would go to Indian express. Even though the route does not say they say it goes. I go an sit in that bus and wait. A good 20minutes pass by and only 4 passengers are there and there is no sign of the bus moving. Meanwhile I see 2 more routes have already left and out of those one goes to my place as well.

Then finally the bus starts, I pay for indian express and at Cantonment station he stops and tells me to get down and Indian express is just 1km from here.

Got really cheesed off. Have decided to take the first bus which starts to move from the bus stand rather than wait in one from beginning. None of the conductors know which bus leaves next and I see that they keep arguing as to who should leave first.

binz · 15th August 2008, 02:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid6639

I don't know if anyone else has mentioned it but I've faced a few problems with a Vayu Vajra from the airport. I need to get to Indian express circle and I know that 4 routes pass by my place. I asked them which 4 are leaving first and no one seems to know.

Then they told me to take one bus which was leaving in 10mins and it would go to Indian express. Even though the route does not say they say it goes. I go an sit in that bus and wait. A good 20minutes pass by and only 4 passengers are there and there is no sign of the bus moving. Meanwhile I see 2 more routes have already left and out of those one goes to my place as well.

Then finally the bus starts, I pay for indian express and at Cantonment station he stops and tells me to get down and Indian express is just 1km from here.

Got really cheesed off. Have decided to take the first bus which starts to move from the bus stand rather than wait in one from beginning. None of the conductors know which bus leaves next and I see that they keep arguing as to who should leave first.

Have you used their site?
Book Ticket - Search Buses

Vid6639 · 15th August 2008, 03:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by binz

Have you used their site?
Book Ticket - Search Buses

I haven't used the site. But the problem is that the buses are not leaving at the times they are supposed to. They keep waiting till the bus fills up. Even if you have a ticket you still have to wait till the driver feels there are enough passengers or when the few irate passengers start loosing their cool waiting.

Mpower · 15th August 2008, 04:21

Nice to see so many car users opting for public transport. Only steps like these can save us from the traffic madness and rising petrol prices. My parents are forced to use public transport simply because they cannot find a parking spot for love or money.

In order to make it more popular with the jet-setting crowd, the following can be implemented.

Discounted monthly passes
Debit card style ticketing based on where you get on and get off. (convenient, no cash required)
Special bus lanes which will end up making the bus faster than other means of transport
Alarm system so the bus driver can skip stops that may not be required and make faster progress.
Encourage more foreign competition to Volvo so that cost of capital can be reduced.
Strive to be bang on time

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjothi

A Volvo buses cost 3 to 4 times the normal buses(atleast double...). And if Govt. can make normal buses available, there would be more commuters per hour served and cost would also be lower.

Yes they are pricey but still its a fraction of what it would cost to lay an underground subway rail system or an overhead rail system.

vasanadusatish · 30th August 2008, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjothi

A Volvo buses cost 3 to 4 times the normal buses(atleast double...). And if Govt. can make normal buses available, there would be more commuters per hour served and cost would also be lower.

I think it is just fancy to have such volvo buses when we are running short of buses. Politicians claiming to be helping and improving the lifestyle of "Aam Aadmi" should first make sure the basic needs are taken care than the luxury.

I think for a normal people getting to the point B from Point A is more important than taking a luxury bus. I agree that Govt. is trying to provide good facilities to common people. but just look at the BMTC buses, its poor maintenance. Most of the bus are in worst condition. I think after a couple of years, this Volvo buses too will also face same situation. So, instead of investing so much Crores for getting this buses, i feel govt should spend that on normal buses.

the other +ve points here is, our Indian companies like Ashok leyland, TATA would also be benefited by this. Right?

Whats your opinion?

Volvo buses should play on our Indian roads, They have show us what is luxury in travelling in a bus. This has become a yard stick to our Indian companies. Competation has given way to qualtiy of service and goods.
Ultimately customer or public is happy.

kvish · 31st August 2008, 00:08

The volvo bus service to BIAL is at clearly at par with the best public transport services. We should give credit where it is due. Right from the moment we reach the bus terminal at BIAL, all the conductors are trying to help us out in finding the right bus. There's lot of space for the luggage too. The driver was kind enough to lower the floor for older passengers ( air suspension?? ) Everyone is handed over a ticket (no excuses like machine not working etc..).

The service is getting really popular. The bus I took was almost full on both ways.! (4pm and 10pm). As a policy, everyone in our company has been taking the volvo bus whenever possible. (late night is still an issue. Just hope the auto drop off does well too).

I feel that if there are more users, then it would prompt the govt to have more buses and improve the service.

Only crib is the drivers dont stop at any traffic lights in the NH7.

Well who does anyway...

mxx · 12th December 2008, 13:27

I dont know about others, but I definitely feel more BMTC volvo(s) are needed. Currently I dont own a car here in Bangalore. Getting in a normal BMTC bus at peak hours is a horrible experience. That is if you can manage to get a place to stand with 2 legs on the floor. Most of the time they are packed beyond capacity. You even feel suffocated. In a volvo I can atleast stand comfortably. So, what if it is 3 times more than normal ticket. I can travel comfortably. Also the crew in volvo is courteous. Its been more than 6 months since i stepped in a normal BMTC service, and if I dont get a volvo in the route that I need to travel, I prefer auto. I guess, people with cars wont understand the need for more volvos. They have an option of taking their cars if the buses are packed twice beyong the capacity. BMTC volvo are a step in the right direction.
Apart from this, many people opt to volvo instead of their cars or bikes, which in turn reduces the traffic on the road.

heavy_foot · 12th December 2008, 15:03

I have being seeing a couple of TATA Marcopolo buses on Blr roads. They look exactly like the volvos.

Glifford · 12th December 2008, 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavy_foot

I have being seeing a couple of TATA Marcopolo buses on Blr roads. They look exactly like the volvos.

Well not exactly. But similar yes!

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...ml#post1090040

msdivy · 12th December 2008, 23:12

While the talk is on AC buses, Bangalore gets AC Bus Stop ! BBMP has built AC bus stop on Kasturba Road.

safari_lover · 13th December 2008, 14:50

AC Bus Stop? That's a new one. How will that operate? I mean we need open places in the Bus Stop don't we?

13th December 2008, 16:44

I used Volvo services from Oct to Dec 2006 from SJP college to JP Nagar (RV Dental College). I found it to be extremely convenient and may I add VFM.

I do think ordinary BMTC buses and Volvos can co-exist. If I was in Bengaluru now (which I am not unfortunately) I would have defnitely tried to take Volvo instead of ride a bike. As many members have said, it caters to different market.

One concern though is, are 'normal' buses being phased out on certain routes? When I was home recently, I saw a report on 'Udaya News' alleging BMTC is phasing out 'normal' buses and forcing people to cough up for Volvo. This needs to be worked out.

A/c bus-stop

. I bet people will start singing socialistic tune, you know, onw which goes like 'do we need this luxury when people are dying of hunger, etc. Would love to check this one out when I go home for Christmascheers:

15th August 2008, 02:00	#34
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,727 Thanked: 43,457 Times View My Garage	I don't know if anyone else has mentioned it but I've faced a few problems with a Vayu Vajra from the airport. I need to get to Indian express circle and I know that 4 routes pass by my place. I asked them which 4 are leaving first and no one seems to know. Then they told me to take one bus which was leaving in 10mins and it would go to Indian express. Even though the route does not say they say it goes. I go an sit in that bus and wait. A good 20minutes pass by and only 4 passengers are there and there is no sign of the bus moving. Meanwhile I see 2 more routes have already left and out of those one goes to my place as well. Then finally the bus starts, I pay for indian express and at Cantonment station he stops and tells me to get down and Indian express is just 1km from here. Got really cheesed off. Have decided to take the first bus which starts to move from the bus stand rather than wait in one from beginning. None of the conductors know which bus leaves next and I see that they keep arguing as to who should leave first.
	() Thanks

31st August 2008, 00:08	#39
kvish BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 627 Thanked: 195 Times	The volvo bus service to BIAL is at clearly at par with the best public transport services. We should give credit where it is due. Right from the moment we reach the bus terminal at BIAL, all the conductors are trying to help us out in finding the right bus. There's lot of space for the luggage too. The driver was kind enough to lower the floor for older passengers ( air suspension?? ) Everyone is handed over a ticket (no excuses like machine not working etc..). The service is getting really popular. The bus I took was almost full on both ways.! (4pm and 10pm). As a policy, everyone in our company has been taking the volvo bus whenever possible. (late night is still an issue. Just hope the auto drop off does well too). I feel that if there are more users, then it would prompt the govt to have more buses and improve the service. Only crib is the drivers dont stop at any traffic lights in the NH7. Well who does anyway...
	() Thanks

12th December 2008, 13:27	#40
mxx BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 761 Thanked: 263 Times	I dont know about others, but I definitely feel more BMTC volvo(s) are needed. Currently I dont own a car here in Bangalore. Getting in a normal BMTC bus at peak hours is a horrible experience. That is if you can manage to get a place to stand with 2 legs on the floor. Most of the time they are packed beyond capacity. You even feel suffocated. In a volvo I can atleast stand comfortably. So, what if it is 3 times more than normal ticket. I can travel comfortably. Also the crew in volvo is courteous. Its been more than 6 months since i stepped in a normal BMTC service, and if I dont get a volvo in the route that I need to travel, I prefer auto. I guess, people with cars wont understand the need for more volvos. They have an option of taking their cars if the buses are packed twice beyong the capacity. BMTC volvo are a step in the right direction. Apart from this, many people opt to volvo instead of their cars or bikes, which in turn reduces the traffic on the road.
	() Thanks

12th December 2008, 15:03	#41
heavy_foot Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 1,048 Thanked: 163 Times	I have being seeing a couple of TATA Marcopolo buses on Blr roads. They look exactly like the volvos.
	() Thanks

12th December 2008, 23:12	#43
msdivy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,815 Thanked: 2,826 Times	While the talk is on AC buses, Bangalore gets AC Bus Stop ! BBMP has built AC bus stop on Kasturba Road.
	() Thanks

13th December 2008, 14:50	#44
safari_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bengaluru / Bagdal Posts: 1,135 Thanked: 685 Times	AC Bus Stop? That's a new one. How will that operate? I mean we need open places in the Bus Stop don't we?
	() Thanks

13th December 2008, 16:44	#45
NitinGirish Posts: n/a	I used Volvo services from Oct to Dec 2006 from SJP college to JP Nagar (RV Dental College). I found it to be extremely convenient and may I add VFM. I do think ordinary BMTC buses and Volvos can co-exist. If I was in Bengaluru now (which I am not unfortunately) I would have defnitely tried to take Volvo instead of ride a bike. As many members have said, it caters to different market. One concern though is, are 'normal' buses being phased out on certain routes? When I was home recently, I saw a report on 'Udaya News' alleging BMTC is phasing out 'normal' buses and forcing people to cough up for Volvo. This needs to be worked out. A/c bus-stop. I bet people will start singing socialistic tune, you know, onw which goes like 'do we need this luxury when people are dying of hunger, etc. Would love to check this one out when I go home for Christmascheers:
	() Thanks