Every day, thousands of commuters from areas like Nagasandra, Hesaraghatta Main Road, and 8th Mile face significant challenges. They are urgently requesting the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to establish a satellite bus stop right on Tumakuru Road, complete with essential shelters. Currently, without such a facility, passengers using non-premium buses are forced into a difficult choice: endure a long journey to the crowded Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic) or wait unsheltered at open roadside locations, completely devoid of basic amenities.
The Daily Grind: Painful Journeys for Residents
For those living in rapidly developing localities such as Nagasandra, Goraguntepalya, Jalahalli Cross, and Hesaraghatta Main Road, what should be a straightforward long-distance bus journey has turned into a daily struggle.
“It’s truly ironic,” notes Niranjan Raj Urs, a resident of Nagasandra. “People residing in Nagasandra or near IKEA, who need to travel to places like Hassan, Shivamogga, Hubballi, or other parts of North Karnataka, are forced to trek all the way to Majestic just to board a KSRTC bus.”
He elaborated that even an early-morning commute is exhausting. “Just getting to the Kempegowda Bus Station (KBS) can take 40 minutes, and then another 45 minutes to reach the Parle toll – assuming the bus runs on schedule. After 8 a.m., these travel times become significantly worse.”
This absence of a functional satellite bus stop near key areas like Jalahalli Cross or Dasarahalli means passengers are left waiting at dangerously crowded roadside spots, including Goraguntepalya Outer Ring Road, 8th Mile, or Jalahalli Cross. “People are literally running after buses just to get on, often with no seats available. And with the introduction of the free bus scheme, the situation has only become more chaotic. A well-planned satellite bus terminal is crucial to spare commuters from these agonizing journeys,” he emphasized.
A Strong Call for Smarter Urban Planning
Local residents strongly advocate for the decentralization of long-distance bus services, believing it’s the only way to alleviate the overwhelming congestion at Majestic and significantly reduce city-wide traffic.
“Currently, only premium or reserved buses make stops in our neighborhoods,” explained Tejaswi Rao, another Nagasandra resident. “For all other buses, we have no option but to travel to Majestic. We believe that buses coming from major cities like Mumbai and Pune, as well as those from North Karnataka and Tumakuru, should have their routes end closer to Nagasandra. This would not only ease the burden on Majestic but also allow us to leverage Namma Metro for onward connections, ultimately decongesting our roads, especially if KSRTC builds satellite bus stands further out, past Nelamangala.”
Manjunath K., a resident of Kirloskar Layout on Hesaraghatta Main Road, added, “A satellite bus stop near Peenya is urgently needed for buses travelling towards Shivamogga, Hassan, Mangaluru, and other distant locations. Furthermore, a proper, sheltered waiting area is crucial near the Parle G factory, where countless passengers currently endure exposure to the elements. And for safety, we need a dedicated service road from Parle G directly to the national highway, eliminating the dangerous practice of people having to jump over parapet walls.”
A Costly Failure: The Basaveshwara Terminal
The Basaveshwara Bus Terminal in Peenya, a facility inaugurated in 2014 with considerable enthusiasm, has unfortunately become a symbol of missed opportunity. Initially, approximately 140 bus routes serving North Karnataka destinations like Davangere, Shivamogga, Chitradurga, and Tumakuru were rerouted from Majestic to this new terminal. Yet, due to a severe lack of passenger usage, this grand experiment swiftly failed, compelling KSRTC to revert services back to the Kempegowda Bus Station within mere months.
Ever since, this ₹40-crore investment has remained mostly dormant, utterly failing to deliver on its core promise of alleviating congestion at Majestic. Although authorities considered various solutions—such as connecting the terminal to the nearby Peenya Metro station, implementing dedicated shuttle services, or even adding a multiplex to attract visitors—sadly, none of these plans ever came to fruition.