BMTC

ZipGo

Ola

Ola Shuttle

Disruptive technology by private players promises to wean city motorist away from private vehicles; butruns to seek legal opinion fearing revenue marginalisationThe big challenge of making Bengaluru shift from using private vehicles to mass transit bus transport system may well be tackled soon. And it is coming from two things: privatisation and the use of disruptive technology that would give the government-run public transport system like Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) a run not only for money but also to keep its services efficient, punctual and commuter-friendly. Now, app-based services are all set to make Bengalureans spoilt for choice while commuting in the city – a scenario far different from that a few years ago when the city was starved of a public transport worth its name.The city has got its next level of technology disruption in its commuting culture: How about travelling in an %air-conditioned bus from, say, Banashankari to Whitefield for just Rs 29! A new online aggregatoris going theand Uber way – deploying mini shuttle buses in the city’s tech corridors. What’s more, Ola is all set to start bus services based on the aggregator model. After capturing the taxi sector, the companies are now focusing on the mass transit sector in the city. It started with aggregators in the taxi or cab sector, followed by the auto rickshaws.Now they are eyeing buses, much to the discomfort of the government-run BMTC, which for the moment appears to have %been left with no other choice but run to seek legal opinion on the advent of privatised bus routes eating into its revenues or ‘violating’ its jurisdictions. With traffic being one of the major concerns in the city the industry is going all out to use technology while applying new ideas to ease the traffic congestion problem. Whether it is Ola announcing a shuttle service in the city, or ZipGo just having started the services a month ago. Companies collectively believe that the problem of traffic can be reduced if the number of vehicles (read private or personalised vehicles) on the road reduce – something that transport experts have been saying all along.ZipGo – started by co-founders of taxi aggregator, TaxiPixi, and an ex-Ola employee – provides bus service to various tech parks in the city. The founders believe that each customer in Bengaluru looks for three aspects to choose a new mode of transport – comfort, time, and cost. Hence, a bus service that fulfils all these three criteria, they are convinced, will encourage people to shift to mass transit options coming from the private sector. Jitendar Sharma, co-founder, ZipGo, says, “We are providing people with an AC bus. People can book their seats an hour before and live-track their bus on the app. This eliminates discomfort of standing or not finding a seat as well as waiting at bus stops for a bus to come. Also, it is much cheaper than that of any other mode of transport available in the city currently. This is attracting customers.” The services are to four IT parks in the city: Bagmane Tech Park, ITPL Whitefield, Electronic city and Manyata Tech Park.Just like the aggregators did in the cab sector, ZipGo has priced its services at an introductory rate of Rs 29. No matter what your pick-up or drop point is, the cost remains standard, making it cheaper. The services are currently available from Banashankari, Bannerghatta, Jayanagar, JP Nagar, BTM layout, Koramangala and Indiranagar. Gaurav Agrawal, a co-founder, said, “So if a person has to travel from Banashakari to ITPL, there no mode of transport that is cheaper. Be it a cab, a BMTC bus or an auto. Even private vehicles will turn out to be more costly and also exhausting. Our price is kept to attract people; and we will always remain lower than the rest.”And Bengalureans are reacting positively to this idea. Started just a month ago, ZipGo founders are already inundated with more than 10,000 emails on request for new routes. Shireen Khan, who travels every day from BTM Layout to Leela Palace in Domlur, said taking a bus cost her a minimum Rs 60 to Rs 70, while an auto would cost her Rs 110, one way. Shireen, 25, an assistant marketing manager at YLG Salon, said, “I saw a board on the street and started using ZipGo. The service is cheap and at the same time more comfortable. For my first ride I was scared about the safety since it was a tempo traveller; but now I am a regular commuter.The biggest advantages are that I do not have to wait at the bus stop thinking a bus might come, nor do I have to get crushed and pushed in crowded buses.” Pritesh Gupta, another co-founder of ZipGo, said, “We have people sending us emails with requests to start services on routes they normally take. People in Bengaluru also understand that mass transit is a way that will make the city less congested. It also means that people can now spend those two hours of travel in AC at leisure. They do not have to get frustrated being behind the wheels.” Ola, on its part, has announced its shuttle service from September 21 in the city.Bhavish Aggarwal, co-founder and chief executive officer, Ola, said, “Millions of Indians undertake daily commute in the cities using their own vehicles, cabs or other modes of personal transportation. With shuttle, we intend to create a comfortable and reliable commute experience for them at the tap of a button on their smartphones. This will bring in efficiencies at scale, for suppliers who will work with us and will help enable mobility for a billion people.” Ola has already started a pilot project of the shuttle service in 20 routes. A 100 buses are being used to serve up to 3,000 customers daily. The shuttle experience would include free Wi-fi, on-demand entertainment, and cashless transactions.On September 21, Ola is planning to launch the shuttle service for over 100 routes in Bengaluru with more than 500 shuttles. Ola is investing $50 million in the coming year on theoffering.The BMTC is seek legal opinion on the proposed operations of aggregators on its stage-contract routes. BMTC MD Ekroop Caur said, “We are aware of the development and have sought legal opinion . As per the rules, BMTC can operate buses in the city limits. Transport department has given permits for maxi cabs that operate to schools and companies. I do not know exactly under which provision they have received permits from the transport department. At this juncture I am not in a position to comment more on the issue as we are yet to make a thorough study. If they interfere in our jurisdiction we would definitely challenge it in the court of law.”BMTC operates 6,429 buses and ferries 50 lakh passengers daily based on the stage-contract permit system – which allows passengers to be picked and dropped at different points on any route. BMTC also runs contract carriage buses to tech parks in the city.