Improving Access & Affordability of Urban Bus Services:

Case Study of Bangalore

Ashwin Prabhu

Manager – Urban Transport

EMBARQ India

Email: aprabhu@embarqindia.org

Comfortable

Affordable

Comfortable

Case Study

of

Bangalore

5th largest

urban area

Pop: 9.6 Million

Density:

7,600/sq.km.

47% Decadal

Growth

(2001-2011)

Bangalore

Introduction: BMTC System Indicators

6,472 Buses (688 AC, 5655 Ordinary)

4.9 Million Passengers Daily

2,398 Routes

Source(s): BMTC, Urban Mobility Indicators 2013

52% of Motorised Trips

Bangalore

in

2001

Bangalore

in

2011

Structural Issue: Direct Services Model

Bangalore, like most cities in India, utilises the Direct Services model for bus transport

This means every locality in the city is provided with its own bus route to the city centre, city market and other major destinations

This model works well for smaller cities, but becomes increasingly inefficient for large cities

As a result of the direct services model, 4

routes are required to provide services

along a single, relatively short stretch of

road

Route 356-B

KR Market

To

Karpur

Route Length:

34.3 KM

Buses:

1

Wait Time till next

bus:

~120 Min

Increased Cost of Travel

53%

4%4%

12%

4%

10%

13%

Bus Stop Access Mode - Chandapura

[n=1650]

BMTC

KSRTC

Private Bus

Auto

2W

Car

Walk

Majority of people accessing bus services at

major junctions are already making transfers

Redesigning

Bus Transport

in

Bangalore

The Frequent Bus Network

Direct Services Integrated Services

Underlying Principle:

Specific Travel Patterns are served not by direct routes, but by

a collection of ‘direction-oriented’ services connected by

transfers

The Frequent Bus Network

Step 1: The BIG Bus Network

The BIG Bus Network is a

Connective Grid of

Very High

Frequency, Direction-

Oriented services along

Major Roads

BIG

=

Bangalore Intra-city Grid

Step 2: Feeder Services

Localities which lie off

of main roads are

served with high

frequency feeder

services

i.e. Feeder services will

connect localities to the

BIG Bus Network

An integrated fare system will ensure transfers are convenient and cheap

BMTC is procuring Electronic Ticketing Machines and a Smartcard Fare System for this purpose

Step 3: Integrated Fare System

Step 4: Unified Branding

Unified Branding of BIG Bus Network service components

will ensure easy understanding of the system

High quality yet small footprint transfer facilities at

interchange junctions will facilitate convenient and

comfortable transfers

Step 5: Transfer Facilities

Step 6: User Information Systems

Simplification of network structure will allow for the

development of user information at bus stops and terminals

Impacts when

Fully Implemented on a Major Arterial Corridor *

aspect indicator before after change

SimplicityNo. of

Routes63 30 - 52.4%

same service coverage area

maintained

Service

Quality

Average

Wait Time

(min)53 23 - 56%

across all bus stops in system,

weighted by passenger volume

Resources Fleet Size 262 262 0%

improvements achieved without

additional fleet requirement

* Results based on modelling of existing services on

Hosur Road Corridor

Implementation Progress

Old

Airport

Road

Sarjapur

Road

Hosur

RoadBanerghatta

Road

Kanakpura

Road

Old

Madras

Road

Mysore

Road

Magadi

Road

Tumkur

Road

Bellary

Road

Tannery Road

Hennur

Road

The BIG Bus Network

has already been

implemented

on

3 of 12 major arterial

corridors in the city.

BIG Bus Network launched by CM Siddaramiah

BigTrunk Bus on Road

Impact: How did you make this trip before?

Other Bus, 38%

Car, 9%2W, 18%

Auto, 14%

Van, 9%

Other, 0%

Didn’t make this

trip, 1%

No Response, 11% More than one

response, 1%

BigTrunk: Why did you switch?

Better

Frequency, 41%

Good Bus

Quality, 25%

Easier to

understand new

service, 15%

Cheaper, 15%

Other, 0%

No Response, 3% More than one

response, 1%

The Frequent Bus Network promises a step-change improvement in the accessibility, affordability and quality of urban bus services - particularly for large cities

In principle this concept can be extended to any city with a well defined road network with a hierarchy of public transport demand

There are some significant challenges, but the ‘how’ of overcoming these is known, and the long-term benefits significantly outweigh the short term costs

Conclusions

Thank You!