Wednesday, March 14, 2007

340N - BMTC Volvo Service to HSR and Koramangala - (Route Withdrawn)

Latest information on bus routes connecting HSR Layout is available here: http://binux.blogspot.com/2009/04/bmtc-bus-guide-for-hsr-layout.html


Jan 22, 2008: This route has been withdrawn by BMTC. There were not enough users. Sad.


Apr 16, 2007: Some updates: The BMTC website now lists the timings and route information for 340N: http://www.bmtcinfo.com/english/v340n.htm
The buses on this route still run nearly empty most of the time. Fares have been reduced yesterday. Do give it a try before BMTC re-deploys these buses on more lucrative routes (335E often has standing passengers) to cut losses.


BMTC has started a new Volvo bus route from Majestic to HSR Layout (Sector 1 and 2) via Koramangala. That means hassle-free, comfortable rides in air-conditioned comfort if your office falls on this route. BMTC has a web-page that lists all Volvo bus routes, timings and fares at http://bmtcinfo.com/english/volvo.htm. Route 340 N isn't listed yet. But for a brief report in the papers on the day of the launch, there's no information on the exact route or the timings. Consequently, there aren't many users of this service yet. I wish BMTC did better by putting up the details at the bus-stops on this route. Here are the details I've gathered so far from using this service over the last two weeks.

The Route
New: I got a Google Maps API key. Here's my first try at the API. View 340N route on Google Maps. I wonder why Google hasn't come up with simpler ways of marking points and paths on their maps without using an API/javascript.
From HSR Layout: Parangipalya (2nd sector), CDWD Quarters/FoodDays, Agara, Jakkasandra (Koramangala 1st block), Sony World Junction, National Games Village, Koramangala Police Station, Raheja Arcade/Forum, Adugodi, Elgin Prestige, Richmond Road, Corporation, Mysore Bank, Majestic.

From Majestic: It's nearly the same route in reverse except that it comes via Subbiah cirle (beginning of Lalbagh road), crosses Double Road under the flyover, DivyaSree Chambers, Nanjappa circle, Langford Road, Elgin Prestige, Adugodi.

Timings
There are two buses on this route. Officially the frequency is one every 45 minutes, but due to the traffic on the route, it's lower than that. This timings aren't stable yet. (Schedule is now available on the BMTC site.) The first bus from HSR starts between 7:45 and 8:00 am on most days. This is the one I use. It drops me at Richmond road by 8:40 am latest. If I'm lucky, I get the return bus in the evening at around 6 pm from the Double Road junction. Check the official schedule. There are changes in the evening schedules.

Fares
Minimum fare is Rs. 15 (Rs. 12 during non peak hours). If you have a Pushpak pass, you can get a concessional fare of Rs. 20 for the full trip. Wait for the fare chart and schedule on bmtcinfo.com. The fares have been reduced from April 15th and the pass holder concessions are gone. That doesn't affect me since the revised fare from HSR to Corporation is Rs. 20 (30 earlier), the same as the concessional fare for Pushpak pass holders. Costs Rs. 15 to Koramangala, 20 to Corporation and 25 to Majestic from HSR now.

Bus Location by SMS
There's an interesting SMS service being tried out with the Volvo buses. These buses have GPS on them and you can get the current location of buses on any route by sending an SMS. The details are available here: http://www.clinf.com/yi/Index.html. The project is in pilot stages now and available on two routes. (Available on almost all Volvo routes.) Simple services like these can go a long way in keeping cars off the roads. Apparently most of the regular BMTC buses too have GPS trackers on them.
Update (23 March 07):The SMS service works for 340 N too. Send "Yi V340N U" to 99456 34666 to know where the bus heading to HSR is. Change the U to D to get the location of the bus towards Majestic. It works fine most of the time. Yesterday, I used it to track the bus in the evening and left office at just the right time.

19 comments:

Rallix said...

Too posh Bean. Aren't auto drivers up in arms against this?

binux said...

Not yet. There are less than 50 of these buses now on selected routes. Have to wait and see what happens when more are introduced.

Bhairavee said...

Hi,

Do you know the timings [roughly] of Bus no :340 N in the mornings ?

Thanks,
-Bhairavi

binux said...

The first trip starts from sector 2 (ParangiPalya) between 7:45 and 8. Don't know when the next one is. If you go by the 45 minute frequency there should be another between 8:30 and 9. You can send an SMS to the YI service and check where the bus coming towards HSR is to get an idea of when it'll reach. It usually leaves for the return trip to Majesic as soon as it reaches sector 2. Another option is to check with the BMTC call center - 22108304 or 12667.

Anonymous said...

I believe they are still testing the SMS service. I did a Query for V340N in the "Up" direction and got a message stating that no data is available.

BTW, the V340N route information has been loaded in the BMTC website.

Anonymous said...

Hi Binu,

Good information.. I wrote about not having 340N information to some of the key email ids I got from www.bmtcinfo.com... But all got bounced. I just wonder it will be huge success if volvo bus timings are displayed in major company Lift lobbies.. It will save huge amout of petrol for nation.. At the same time lot of money for individuals

Anonymous said...

Hi Binu,

Thanks for the info, excellent job. I often want to travel from Koramangala to Majestic, but haven't ever found a decent route except 171 which is highly packed and takes > 1 hour. This is promising, I'll use the 340N route soon.

Anonymous said...

Seems that BMTC has discontinued 340N. Sad.. 340N is not listed on www.bmtcinfo.com

binux said...

Yes. The route has been withdrawn. I was away for a while and noticed it today. The first trip had many regular users. I wish they had retained at least that one.

Venkat Ramakrishnan said...

Dear Binu,

Is there a users' forum where we
can give our recommendations for
specific routes of BMTC? If yes,
that would be a better place to
raise our ideas/concerns.

I live in Vijayanagar, and there's
a huge population of IT population
which travel to Srjpr Outer Ring
Road, Airport Road, Hebbal Manyata
business park, etc from here.

Please let me know.

Let's work together.

Cheers!
Venkat

Anonymous said...

BMTC seems to have started a 340P service, unsure about the route. Also there're very few trips of the bus everyday. Checkout & update us if you have any additional info.

Thanks!

Nirav Doshi

binux said...

Venkat: I don't know of any user forum for route suggestions. The BMTC citizen's charter lists contacts and forms for giving them your suggestions: http://www.bmtcinfo.com/english/Reports/Citizen%20charter%202006-07%20--27.pdf
Give it a shot. Vijayanagar seems to be well serviced by Volvo route 500K to ITPL: http://www.bmtcinfo.com/english/v500k.htm . There are no Volvo routes toward Hebbal via ring road to my knowledge.

binux said...

Nirav: Haven't seen 340P yet. The timings got listed recently but the route hasn't been put up yet: http://www.bmtcinfo.com/english/v340p.html
It's from Majestic to Wipro office on Sarjapur road. The timings in the morning don't suit me. Will see if I can use it in the evenings till Agara and figure out the route.

Shri Dutta Pachori said...

Even i saw 340P today & seems promising... Using the SMS i will take it frequently near springfields...any way wats the sms charges.... ;)

Jim said...

Hello,

Do you have any idea , if there is any 340N between 10 and 11 am ....and is ther any buses from double road to HSR sector 1

binux said...

The 340N Volvo route has been discontinued but you'll find regular bus routes 340A, 340M and 340F to HSR layout from Double road.

You could also board any bus going towards St. John's from Double road (all route numbers between 340 and 360). There is the occasional 340C and some other buses starting from K.R. Market and St. John's towards HSR layout that you can get from there.

All BMTC routes numbered 340, 341 and 342 (including the rare 340P Volvo) go via Agara which is very close to sector 1.

Anonymous said...

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Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!

Anonymous said...

now a days the route no 171 is very late to go for majestic , but 340A,M OR 342F are very faster than 171 , but 171 starts at koramangala to majestic , and it will round all the koramangala blocks it is very head ache to go in that ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .

Anonymous said...

THIS IS BETTER TO LIVE THE VOLVO IN BANGALORE CITY ,, IT IS NICE THAT 340A VOLVO HAVE LEFT ,BUT BMTC SHOULD LIVE THE VOLVO FROM SARJAPUR WIPRO GATE TO MAJESTIC OR TO ELECTRONIC CITY , BUT NOW ADAYS THE SOFT WARES ARE STRUGGLING IN NORMAL BUS , BUT BMTC SHOLD LIVE MANY VOLVO BUSEES , I REQUEST THE B M T C . THANK YOU