BENGALURU: Vajra Volvo AC bus fare and day pass rate will be cheaper from Friday, and monthly pass rate from January 1.
Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) on Wednesday said Vajra fares will be reduced by 34%. While the minimum fare remains the same — Rs 10 for the first 2km (stage 1) — it will come down from stage 4 (8km) — from Rs 30 to Rs 25.
The maximum fare for 50km (stage 25) will reduce from Rs 90 to Rs 50. Each stage is 2km.
BMTC also slashed Vajra day pass from Rs 120 to Rs 100. Similarly, monthly pass rate from January 1 will be cut from Rs 2,000 (including GST) to Rs 1,500.
However, there is no change in non-AC and Vayu Vajra bus fares. TOI had carried BMTC’s plan to slash Vajra fares and passes on December 12.
The move to slash Vajra fares is a win-win situation for both BMTC and passengers. While commuters are tired of surge pricing and last-minute cancellations by app-based taxis and autorickshaws especially during peak hours, ridership of Vajra buses, which were mainly running on IT corridors, reduced ever since the pandemic struck. Techies, a regular on these buses, are mostly working remotely now.
Despite soaring diesel prices, this will be the second fare revision of Vajra buses in the recent past. The corporation had reduced AC bus fares by 20% on January 1, 2021.
90 new Vajra buses
On Friday, BMTC will introduce 90 new Vajra buses on 12 additional routes, from 83 buses on nine routes. Check mybmtc.karnataka.gov.in for the list of all routes/timings.
