Bengalureans can soon enjoy double-decker bus rides in new e-avatar

Bengalureans can soon enjoy the double-decker bus rides like Mumbai. After Mumbai's BEST, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is planning to induct 10 double-decker AC electric-buses in the city.

Double-decker buses were phased in 1997 across the country, except Mumbai. Now, they're making a comeback in a new electric avatar.

According to a ToI report, The city transport corporation is planning to purchase five e-buses from the Rs 140 crore allocated for BBMP by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Additionally, it plans to buy another five such buses with the help of Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT).


The Centre has released Rs 140 crore under the 15th finance commission grants for air quality improvement for 2021-2022. The Union government has also allocated Rs 20 crore for the electrification of 15 bus depots for e-buses inducted under the FAME scheme (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles).

The corporation is in the process of identifying the routes. But according to some reports, the service is likely to start on Outer Ring Road and other peripheral roads/outskirts since aerial clearance is required due to increased height of these buses. Narrow roads, flyovers, overhead power lines, telecom cables and tree branches pose challenge in operation of double decker buses. Poor road condition, wild curves are other concerns.

In the 1980s, a double-decker bus ferrying schoolchildren tilted near Ramakrishna Mission in south Bengaluru. This dented the image of such buses.