Bengaluru — The city administration is gearing up to shift 103 bus-stop locations across Bengaluru in a major move aimed at easing traffic snarls caused by buses halting near junctions and signals.

Background

The effort comes in response to longstanding complaints that many of the bus stops operated by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) sit too close to traffic signals or at locations that obstruct smooth vehicular flow. Observers say that buses stopping mid-lane or immediately before intersections frequently create bottlenecks.

The plan

Under the initiative, around 103 stops will be relocated to more suitable positions — away from signals, with better sight lines and preferably in dedicated bus bays or pull-outs. The relocation is expected to be done in phases and will involve coordination between BMTC, the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) and the city civic body. An earlier list of 110 stops near signals had also been flagged for review.

Expected benefits

  • Better traffic flow at major intersections and along arterial roads, as buses will no longer block lanes while picking up or dropping passengers.
  • Improved safety for both commuters and other road users, by reducing mid-road stoppages or bus stops in turn-blind areas.
  • Potentially better reliability for bus services, as stoppage-related delays get trimmed down.

Challenges and caveats

  • Relocation requires finding suitable space for each stop, and not all sites may allow easy shifts because of narrow roads or infrastructure constraints.
  • The success of the plan will depend on timely execution and proper enforcement, ensuring buses use the new stop locations and not the old ones.
  • While the move addresses stoppage-location issues, it does not directly tackle other causes of congestion such as traffic volume, encroachments, or poor lane management.

What lies ahead

Officials say the work will be fast-tracked now that the new list is ready and will be implemented alongside other traffic-management measures. Local commuters and resident associations will be watching closely to see how these changes play out on the ground.