Bengaluru: Poorly maintained, poorly lit and confusing bus stops are making everyday public transport difficult for commuters across Bengaluru, with women passengers also raising concerns about safety after dark.
One name, three bus stops
For Vanitha V, who travels from Mahalakshmi Layout to Seshadripuram, catching a bus from Rajajinagar 1st Block has become a daily challenge. Three bus stops share the same name along Chord Road, while some have no clear signage or guarantee that buses will stop there.
One stop near Metro Pillar 265 is poorly lit, while another below a flyover reportedly does not see buses stopping. Vanitha often walks around 500 metres to reach the unnamed stops where most buses halt.
The confusion reflects a wider problem in Bengaluru, where passengers frequently struggle to identify the correct stop or find information about routes.
Poor facilities discourage bus travel
A reality check across the city has found bus stops without shelters, broken seating and flooring, garbage, inadequate lighting and missing signage.
Civic activist Kochu Sankar Gopalakrishnan said rapidly growing areas such as Horamavu, Kalkere and Ramamurthy Nagar have particularly poor last-mile connectivity. He called for more small and feeder buses linking residential areas with the Outer Ring Road and metro networks.
The city has around 9,400 bus stops, but maintenance remains a major concern.
Women raise safety concerns
Many women commuters said poorly lit and isolated bus stops can feel unsafe, particularly during evenings when bus frequency falls.
An audit covering around 400 bus stops found that nearly 94% lacked ramps, while about 78% forced passengers onto the road because footpaths were blocked or inaccessible.
Experts have called for uniform standards, proper signage, lighting, accessibility and safer locations for bus stops.
The issue highlights how improving small but essential public transport facilities could make Bengaluru more accessible, safer and more dependent on public transport.