The large advertisements placed vertically above the window ledge on either side of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses pose a serious problem to commuters trying to identify their alighting destination, especially those standing and commuting. Literally they have to crane their necks. In addition, passengers are deprived of enjoying the travel – as it blocks the view of the garden city.
Monica A.N. of Coorg, in the city for a brief project at an IT firm, reached home late on Thursday night as she could not identify the bus stop at Ulsoor and realized she missed her stop only at Indira Nagar. “I could not notice my bus stop, as there were advertisements right above the window. The conductor was at the rear and the bus was crowded” she adds.
In Bangalore, with a vast migrant population such situations are only to be expected, given the limited visibility from inside the bus.
Besides, the commuter’s discomfort with the limited visiblity seems evident, given the fact that in some buses, a portion of the advertisement has been torn off to enable the commuter to look outside comfortably. “We have to bend our neck to see the place. From the window, all that we can see is the road. This will not help in identifying the place”, says Karthik Prabhu, a graphic designer.
If identifying the location is a general problem, for some the advertisements block the view of the city. Athisu James of Nagaland, who studies at Wiztoonz College in the city says that the advertisement is an obstacle to the passenger enjoying the travel. “We don’t get to see the city as we travel”, he feels.
A.K Mohan Kumar, a resident of Kanakapura adds that the BMTC can place advertisements to earn revenue but should keep some space open for commuter viewing. Mr. Kumar too felt that such advertisements posed a problem especially during the peak hours.
High Revenue
BMTC General Manager (Operations) G.N Veeregowda said that the BMTC earns more than Rs 8 crore annually from such advertisements. “This non-traffic revenue has only enabled us to provide better facilities to the commuter and reduce the transport charges without putting any extra burden on them”, he said.
“After many registered similar complaints with us, we issued a circular asking the conductor to give clear instructions at every bus stop. In addition to it, there are LED instructions, Passenger Information System (PIS) and voice announcements in some buses. By October end, we will install GPS in all the buses”, he added.
He also said that in the next tender they would try use see-through mesh vinyl stickers and instruct the agencies to leave some place open between the panels.
In the meanwhile, commuters will have to continuously crane their necks to ensure that they do not miss their bus stop for the wilderness!
