Bengaluru’s ITPL Corridor Bus Shelters Face Neglect
Bengaluru: The bus shelters along the ITPL corridor, which is home to several tech parks, are in poor condition despite the growing need for more buses by tech workers. A stretch of about 600 meters on ITPL Main Road, starting from Kundalahalli Colony, has three bus shelters that daily serve hundreds of tech professionals.
During a recent visit to the area, it was observed that the bus stop at Kundalahalli Colony is in really bad shape. The metal frames that should support the seats were found lying on the ground, left unattended.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the only neglected bus shelter. A nearby shelter next to Prestige Technostar Tech Park lacks seating, and its panels are covered in spider webs and old billboards, which discourages commuters from using it. Although there is another shelter close by, it still leaves passengers struggling during peak hours and rainy days.
“I have been using this bus stop for the last four to five months, and nothing has changed. Although there’s another stop nearby, it becomes quite packed during rush hour. My shelter can keep me dry, but the other one is nearly falling apart,” shared Yathish Sai, a college student.
Local residents highlight that many bus shelters on ITPL Main Road and in Whitefield are either in similar or even worse conditions. While the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) operates the buses, maintenance of the shelters falls under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Anjali Saini, a representative from the civic group Whitefield Rising, stated, “The civic authority just needs to notify the contractors responsible for upkeep and perform regular inspections. There have even been cases where maintenance contracts haven’t been renewed.”
In response to the ongoing issues, BBMP has assured that steps will be taken to resolve the situation promptly. “We will definitely look into it and instruct the responsible agency to carry out repairs immediately,” a BBMP engineer in charge of the area confirmed.
