Only 50% of bus stops in Bengaluru have shelters

Women face safety issues; people with disabilities and senior citizens disappointed with lack of inclusivity

Recently, a 30-year-old man died near Hebbal bus stop after he was electrocuted by an illegally drawn wire by a private advertisement agency. As the city moves towards pre-COVID scenarios, and with the impending arrival of the monsoon, the focus is back on the poor status of bus shelters, or a lack thereof, for the city’s commuters.

An official of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which maintains bus stops, admitted that only 50% of bus stops in the city have bus shelters.

Citizens questioned the utilitarian value of the bus stops/shelters. They pointed out that if one is not a regular commuter on a particular route, it becomes a Herculean task to identify bus stops, especially on the outskirts like Yelahanka, Jigani, Nelamangala and others.

At some places, there are not even signages to indicate the presence of bus stops. Even within the Central Business District (CBD), some prominent bus stops do not have bus shelters.  

“The buses too sometimes do not halt at the stops that do not have shelters if there are just one or two people waiting. Vijayanagar, is where I board my bus. Yet, come rain or shine, we have not had a bus shelter here for decades”, said Babu of Vijayanagar Vendors Association. He also said as a person who only uses BMTC as a mode of transport, has seen more stops without shelters in the city than the ones which have.

At bus stops, where there are shelters, there are other problems, like broken roofs and benches, and dirty platforms. Vinay Sreenivasa of Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike (BBPV) pointed out how even though BMTC is the most relied upon public transport system in the city, the civic body does not care about its maintenance.

He added: “Shelters too are designed in such a way that if people sit on the seats, they cannot see the incoming bus. They have to stand up to take a look, which defeats the purpose of the shelter”.