Bengaluru: 86% of survey respondents want bus lanes on tech corridors

The bus priority lane, which was launched on November 15, 2020, between Central Silk Board and KR Puram on Outer Ring Road, was discontinued in mid-2022 due to Metro construction work.

Up to 86% of survey respondents in Bengaluru want bus lanes to be extended on tech corridors.

This was revealed in NGO Greenpeace India's latest report, 'Relying on the bus: Studying the impacts of Bengaluru's bus Lane on Bus Use,' which was released on September 20. The report is based on an on-board survey of 979 bus users conducted between May and July 2022.

The bus priority lane, which was launched on November 15, 2020, between Central Silk Board and KR Puram on Outer Ring Road, was discontinued in mid-2022 due to Metro construction work.

The report states, "A staggering 86 percent of respondents expressed their support for expanding the bus lane system, suggesting key areas such as Hebbal, Tin Factory, Silk Board, Marathahalli, Whitefield, Electronics City, BTM Layout, Majestic, and KR Puram. Some individuals even called for bus lanes to be implemented throughout the entire city."

According to the report, more than 28 percent of existing bus users reported an improvement in travel time since the implementation of the bus lane. This improvement was particularly significant for those travelling longer distances, with 54 percent of respondents experiencing a reduction in travel time from 60-90 minutes to 30-60 minutes.

Additionally, 82 percent of respondents found the bus lanes to provide a generally positive experience.

The most highly rated demand related to bus-based public transport in Bengaluru is 'reduced fare and/or free travel for women,' which has been supported by more than 75 percent of respondents. This is followed by the demand for 'more buses' (61 percent) and 'better bus stops with proper seats and shelter' (44 percent).

Amruta SN, Greenpeace India campaigner, said, "The introduction of the bus priority lane attracted new users, particularly women, with three percent of respondents starting to avail public buses since the introduction of the bus lane, despite its limited stretch. Among these 'new' users, an overwhelming majority are women (73 percent), highlighting the gender-positive impact of the bus lane. These findings strongly support our recommendation to implement bus priority lanes on routes that have already been mapped out by the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT)."

Avinash Chanchal, Greenpeace India’s campaign manager, emphasises the close link between Bengaluru's transport problems and its air pollution crisis. "Heavy traffic congestion contributes significantly to air pollution, as vehicles emit harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. Bengaluru's air quality has consistently ranked as one of the worst in India, posing a significant health risk to residents, especially vulnerable populations such as children, elderly citizens, pregnant citizens, and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions," he said.

"The prioritisation and implementation of the 11 other proposed bus lanes in Bengaluru will go a long way in improving the city’s public transport system. By dedicating lanes exclusively for buses, we can enhance the efficiency and reliability of our public transit system, ultimately leading towards sustainable and convenient mobility for citizens," he adds.