BMTC plans audio on buses, passengers raise concern over impact on stop announcements
After wrapping its buses with commercial, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is now planning to introduce audio inside its buses for the first time
After wrapping its buses with commercial, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is now planning to introduce audio inside its buses for the first time, a move aimed at generating additional non-fare revenue. The proposal has sparked concerns among regular commuters, particularly over its potential impact on the bus stop announcement system designed to assist passengers, including the visually impaired. A senior BMTC official said that the corporation would soon float a separate tender for the initiative. The official said that the audio system is currently used at the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus stands, where are played between public announcements. According to the official, all BMTC buses are now equipped with voice-based passenger information systems that announce upcoming bus stops.
Under the proposed plan, will be played in the intervals between these stop announcements. “We are planning to insert between bus stop announcements inside the BMTC buses,” the official said. The BMTC, which operates services across urban, suburban and rural areas in and around Bengaluru, has increasingly focused on commercial utilisation of its assets to supplement passenger fare revenue. Besides wrapping buses with, the corporation earns through leasing land, renting commercial spaces at bus terminals, office spaces, parking facilities and panels on buses. The corporation currently operates 6,158 buses including 1,027 electric buses. During the 2023-24 financial year, the BMTC generated ₹811 crore in non-traffic revenue from various commercial sources.
Commuters oppose However, several commuters questioned whether introducing into the voice announcement system could compromise a facility that serves an important public purpose. Venkatesh Babu, a regular BMTC commuter from Jayanagar, said that the voice announcement system is primarily meant to help passengers identify bus stops, especially those who are visually challenged or unfamiliar with a route. “It is unfair to insert commercial between bus stop announcements. The audio announcement system exists for a reason, it helps visually challenged passengers travel independently and also assists people who are new to Bengaluru or travelling on an unfamiliar route. Adding in between could create unnecessary confusion, distract passengers from important stop information and dilute the effectiveness of a system that is meant to improve accessibility.” Another commuter, Sindhu Ram from Magadi Road, said that the BMTC should first ensure that the existing announcement system functions reliably before introducing.
The BriefWire