Public transport commuters excluded from the Karnataka Unlock plans

Bengaluru: As the state government has permitted autos and cabs to carry commuters from June 14, public transport users are still upset as the government has not yet allowed BMTC and KSRTC bus services and Metro services to resume. Public transport users will have to pay more to reach their workplaces.

Before the increase in Covid cases, BMTC carried around 25 lakh passengers every day and Namma Metro around 2 lakh. On April 27, the services were suspended to contain the spread of the infection and remained shut even during the lockdown. A transport official stated that all four state-run bus corporations, including BMTC, were planning to resume the services after 50 days of lockdown. Presently, BMTC operates skeletal services for essential workers and six Vayu Vajra buses from Majestic to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).

Several people who do not possess vehicles prefer to use buses because BMTC provides passes at concessional rates. S Manjunath, security guard, who lives in CV Raman Nagar, said, “It’s difficult to commute in the city without BMTC. I can’t afford to buy a second-hand scooter or travel by cab or autorickshaw. I cycle to work near Shantinagar, it’s time-consuming and tiring. I hope the government allows BMTC services soon.”

According to the experts, transport operators should follow all the Covid protocols for health safety and ensure that the surfaces are frequently sanitised. It is also important to vaccinate the staff. Till now, 70% of BMTC employees have been vaccinated.

Shaheen Shasa, an activist with the Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike, said, “There is no good reason for not allowing buses. Buses have sufficient ventilation compared to cabs. The government should balance life and livelihood. At a time when many people are losing jobs or seeing their earnings fall, it should restart buses, a transportation mode the poor depend on. Before lockdown, around 25 lakh people were travelling in BMTC buses, but overcrowding was not an issue.”

Ravi Gadepalli, an independent consultant and transport expert said that till now there has been no evidence to prove that there is a link between public transport and Covid-19. He said, “Cities like London conducted tests that showed that public transport is safe. When the government is allowing offices to reopen, why is BMTc not permitted to operate buses? Economic activities are being restarted, but several people will be without affordable transport options to reach their workplaces. This, in turn, will affect work and delay recovery.”

Geeta Menon, joint secretary of the Domestic Workers’ Rights Union said that prolonged suspension of bus services will hit house helps badly. She said, “In the absence of these services, they have to shell out more as autos can carry only two passengers at a time. For the poor, buses are the primary mode of transport. Not owning a vehicle is not a crime.”

Dr US Vishal Rao, a member of the Covid expert committee said that a seven day moving average of the test positivity rate should be observed. He said, “Public transport is likely to be allowed in another one to two weeks. We are concerned that the poor will be affected because of the lack of buses. But we should understand the fact that the virus is not moving, people are. And they are more vulnerable, especially when travelling as a group in a bus.”