Bangaloreans on their BMTC experiences

Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is a public transport bus service in Bengaluru, India. BMTC busses run across Bengaluru city carrying thousands of passengers every day.

“My best experience in the BMTC was in the year 2019. It was a new year in Bengaluru. I had to hop on the bus to go back to my place. The conductor came towards me to hand over the ticket and wished me Happy New year. To my surprise, he and handed over to me, a packet of dairy milk chocolate. I was surprised and was so happy. This is one of the kindest acts a stranger had done for me.” shared Akhil Menon, A Ph.D. Scholar.

BMTC records figures showed 35.8 lakh ridership in the year 2018-19. When there has been so much ridership, there are always worst experiences too.

Sanjay Nair, a software engineer said, “This happened during my first few months in Bengaluru. I had just completed my degree and moved here, searching for a job. After a few failed attempts, I finally got a call for my first interview, as I was short of money at that time, I took a bus from my place to the interview location. The bus was very crowded, so it took me a while to get to the door when the stop had reached. But by that time, the bus had already started moving. I begged the conductor to stop, initially, he refused, but after going a bit to the front, it finally stopped. But the bus just slowed down for me and the conductor yelled at me to get off the bus. So I almost fell while getting off the bus. Being my first time in a big city, It was a traumatic experience for me.”

Samia, a student shared with us, “A conductor once told me that, this is not Australia, speak in Kannada this is Bengaluru.”

BMTC busses are usually crowded at peak hours, and it can be really hard to get a seat. One of the students studying in Bengaluru anonymously told us his experience.“One of the worst experiences I ever had in my life would be in the year 2017. It was a late night. I had to take one of the last buses from Majestic. I had to hop inside or else I had to take an auto. It was so crowded but I still hoped in. I walked over towards the end of the bus and was standing next to a seat. Bengaluru roads were worse back then too, as the humps came in, the entire crowd leaned towards me. As I was standing, I could feel a man, touching my thighs. My heart almost stopped, I was scared. He wouldn’t stop. I started refusing but he kept on moving his hands over my thighs. I wanted to scream and get down but I was helpless. To this day, I am terrified to travel in a crowdy BMTC bus.”