‘Is this a bus stop or a car and taxi stop?’

Illegal occupation of BMTC bus stops by autorickshaws and taxis has become a common sight in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

For Rathna Sekhar, the daily bus ride from Bilekahalli bus stop on Bannerghatta Main Road to Shanthinagar has become a daily struggle. The reason? Auto-rickshaws and taxis park illegally in front of the bus stand, making it almost impossible to board Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses there.

“Every morning, I see cars and taxis blocking the bus stop. The buses have no choice but to stop in the middle of the road, and when I try to get on, the vehicle behind the bus starts honking impatiently. It’s frustrating, and I sometimes miss the bus ,” he said, echoing the frustration of many Bengaluru commuters.

The problem facing Ms. Sekhar is part of a larger problem plaguing the city’s public transport network.

Illegal occupation of BMTC bus stops by autorickshaws and taxis has become a common sight in Bengaluru, making the situation difficult not only for passengers, but also for bus drivers. BMTC drivers find it difficult to maneuver at designated stops, as auto-rickshaws ignore buses and stop at bus stops, preventing them from stopping near designated shelters. The result is traffic congestion, delays, and safety hazards for pedestrians and commuters.

Autos take over the bus stop

Many bus stops, such as those at BTM Layout and Banashankari, have been encroached by autorickshaws. Private taxis have also started using the area as convenient pick-up and drop-off points, adding to the chaos. This illegal occupation forces BMTC buses to stop in the middle of the road, delaying traffic and causing inconvenience to passengers waiting to board.

Malavika N., a regular BMTC commuter from JP Nagar, highlighted the issue. “We have seen this for many years. There is no effort by the traffic police to prevent cars and taxis from using bus shelters to be comfortable. It is unfortunate that buses have to stop far away from the designated places because cars are blocking the road. Passengers are often left in the middle of the road trying to get on the bus, which is inconvenient and dangerous.

Missed the bus, delayed the traffic

Another senior resident, Prasad N. Kumar, of Indiranagar said, “There were times when bus drivers would stop at bus shelters because cars were parked in front of them. Instead, they stopped in the middle of the road, forcing passengers like me to run through the traffic to ride. I have even seen the bus driver honking at the car driver, but it often escalates into a heated argument between the bus and the car driver. As a senior citizen, this situation makes it very difficult to ride the bus safely.

BMTC officials acknowledged the problem, stating that they have tried to solve the problem by using ‘Sarathi’ vehicles across the city. This vehicle stops patrol buses, ensuring that cars and taxis are not parked illegally. A senior BMTC official said, “We are aware of the problem of large number of cars and private vehicles occupying the bus stand. We have instructed the Sarathi patrol team to ensure that these vehicles do not misuse the bus stand.

In Bengaluru, there are about 8,500 bus shelters managed by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

A senior Bengaluru Traffic Police official added, “We regularly conduct drives to ensure that cars and taxis do not park in prohibited areas, especially near BMTC bus stands.”

However, bus commuters are calling for stricter enforcement. “When the emphasis is on getting more people to ride buses and metros in a congested city like Bengaluru, the authorities should work together to make public transport more convenient than the existing options. But right now, we are fighting for something as basic as ensuring that bus stops are free from vehicles private,” said Meera, who rides a bus at Maruthinagar in Malleshpalya, often dealing with parked private vehicles.