Bengaluru: Metro delay boosts BMTC’s NICE Road buses; monthly ridership quadruples

The delay in the launch of Bengaluru’s Yellow Line Metro has unexpectedly benefited the BMTC (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation), with a significant surge in demand for its NICE Road express bus services. Frustrated by the prolonged metro project, many commuters are shifting to BMTC buses for a faster and more reliable option.

Also Read:Bengaluru: Alert commuter foils mobile theft attempt on crowded BMTC bus

Introduced in December 2023, the NICE Road BMTC services initially catered to around 64,000 passengers per month. However, as the Metro Yellow Line continues to face delays, ridership has now spiked to nearly 4 lakh passengers monthly, marking a sixfold increase.

Currently, BMTC operates 53 buses daily across 17 different NICE Road routes, serving an estimated 13,000 passengers every day. The NICE Road connects key residential areas to commercial hubs like Electronic City, significantly easing traffic congestion for daily commuters.

This shift has resulted in a major revenue boost for BMTC. The corporation’s income from NICE Road services jumped from Rs 26 crore to Rs 58 crore within a year, demonstrating both increased passenger trust and operational efficiency.

To further capitalize on this demand, BMTC is now preparing to introduce air-conditioned buses along the NICE Road stretch, aiming to offer better comfort and convenience. A new route from Madavara to Electronic City via NICE Road is also in the pipeline. This will benefit commuters who travel by metro till Madavara and then switch to BMTC buses to reach their final destination.