BIA toll: BMTC strikes gold

BANGALORE: : Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s (BMTC) airport shuttle service Vayu Vajra has struck gold amidst the stand off regarding the toll collection for all vehicles returning from the Bangalore International Airport (BIA). Around 62 buses make around 466 trips daily, with each bus carrying around 40 passengers. With buses having to pay a toll of `60, the BMTC is charging every passenger `5 more per ticket. While the reality behind its sudden increase total daily profits is just a game of simple maths, BMTC further confirms that it has noticed an increase in the number of customers in just two days.Express noticed not only normal passengers but also those who travel by the business class boarding the Vayu Vajra from Majestic, Shivaji Nagar and other points. Interestingly, those passengers who already have a special and monthly pass are not spending a lot more. Even they have to pay `5 above the passes priced `1,500 and `1,450 respectively. “It has just been two days and though there is an increase in the number of passengers, we cannot really say how much inflow has gone up. Besides, we are also planning to set up a counter at the BIAL or share the KSTDC counter to create more awareness about the service,” said K R Srinivas, Managing Director of the BMTC.Meanwhile, the BMTC staff at BIAL commented that they have seen a rise in customer inflow by about 30 per cent since the toll was levied at the Sadarahalli Gate on National Highway7.  “The number of passengers preferring to take the Vayu Vajra has surely gone up. Initially, passengers said an increase by `5 is high, eventually it seems a low price to pay than having to book a taxi that costs anywhere between `600 to `1,500 because of the increased toll,” said a source at the BMTC section of BIAL.Meanwhile, the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) Taxi and Lorry Owners’ Association along with other cab associations are continuing to protest even as the NHAI has convened a meeting to discuss the controversial toll collection issue.