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{{Short description|Transport corporation of Karnataka, India}}
{{pp-move-dispute|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox bus transit
| name = Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation
| logo = Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) Logo.jpg
| logo_size = 150px
| founded = * {{Start date and age|1997|08|15}}<br/>{{small|as Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation}}<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ksrtc.in/pages/history.html|title=KSRTC Official Website for Online Bus Ticket Booking - KSRTC.in|access-date=17 August 2022|archive-date=7 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607185521/https://www.ksrtc.in/pages/history.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{citation | url=https://www.mybmtc.karnataka.gov.in/info-1/History/en | title=BMTC History | date=14 May 2019}}</ref>
* {{Start date and age|2014|11|01}}<br/>{{small|as Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation}}
| headquarters = BMTC Central Office, Sarige Sadana, Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road, [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee TTMC|Shantinagara]], [[Bengaluru]], [[Bengaluru Urban district]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]]
| locale = Majorly 25km outward from the boundaries of [[Bengaluru|Bengaluru City]] covering most of [[Bengaluru Urban district]], parts of [[Bengaluru North district]], [[Bengaluru South district]] and a few destinations in [[Chikkaballapura district]].
| service_area = Majorly within [[Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority|Bengaluru Metropolitan Region]] and few destinations in [[Chikkaballapura district]]
| service_type =
| fleet = 6340 vehicles<ref name="BMTC at a glance">{{Cite web |date=20 August 2022 |title=BMTC at a glance |url=https://mybmtc.karnataka.gov.in/info-1/BMTC+Glance/en |access-date=31 August 2023 |website=Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation |archive-date=24 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524020458/https://mybmtc.karnataka.gov.in/info-1/BMTC+Glance/en |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| parent = [[Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation]]
| operator = [[Government of Karnataka]]
| website = {{URL|https://mybmtc.karnataka.gov.in/english/|mybmtc.karnataka.gov.in}}
|former_name=* Bangalore Transport Service (1948–1961)
* Bangalore Transport Service (1961–1997) as part of [[Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation]]
* Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (1997–2014)
|ridership=4,910,000 (27 November 2017)
|hubs={{*}}[[Kempegowda Bus Station|Kempegowda Bus Station, Majestic]]
{{*}} [[Shivajinagar, Bangalore|Shivajinagar]]
{{*}}[[K. R. Market]]
|depots=50
|leader_type=Managing Director
|leader=Ramachandran R., [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]]
|alliance=[[Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation#Karnataka's Road Transport Undertakings|Karnataka's Road Transport Undertakings]]
|fuel_type=[[Diesel engine|Diesel]], [[Battery electric bus|Electric battery]]
|map=
|map_name=
|routes=5729
|commenced={{Start date and age|1997|08|15}}
}}

'''Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC)''', formerly '''Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation''', is a state-owned public road transport corporation in the Indian city of [[Bangalore]]. It is wholly owned by the [[Government of Karnataka]]. It serves the [[Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority|Bangalore Metropolitan Region]]. As of 28 September 2024, it has a fleet of 6340 vehicles.<ref name="BMTC at a glance"/>

==History==
===Foundation===
Mysore Government Road Transport Department was inaugurated on 12 September 1948 with 120 buses.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ksrtc.in/pages/history.html|title=KSRTC Official Website for Online Bus Ticket Booking - KSRTC.in|access-date=17 August 2022|archive-date=7 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607185521/https://www.ksrtc.in/pages/history.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The transport department of The Mysore state administered it until 1961.

===Corporatization===
It was subsequently converted into an independent corporation under Section 3 of the Road Transport Corporation Act, 1950 on 1 August 1961, In 1961, after successfully converting into an independent corporation all assets and liabilities of MGRTD were transferred to Mysore State Road Transport Corporation.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

=== Merger ===
On 1 October 1961, Bangalore Transport Service was merged with it.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

===Renaming===
On 1 November 1973, the Mysore state was renamed as Karnataka thus, renaming it [[Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation]]'''.'''

===Bifurcation===
* On 15 August 1997, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation was bifurcated to cater to the transportation needs of [[Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority]]. It was formed by separating the Bangalore Transport Service'''.'''
* on 1 November 1997, [[North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation]] was bifurcated to cater to the transportation needs of Northwestern parts of Karnataka.
* On 15 August 2000, [[Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation]] (then North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation) was bifurcated to cater to the transportation needs of Northeastern parts of Karnataka.<ref name=KSRTChistory>{{cite news|title=KSRTC History|url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Wheels-of-change-turn-Karnataka-State-Road-Transport-Corporation-into-a-winner/articleshow/15085055.cms|newspaper= The Times of India|date= 22 July 2012|access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref><ref name=KSRTCHIS>{{cite web|title=Ksrtc history|url=http://www.ksrtc.in/site/history|website=www.ksrtc.in|access-date=24 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317003217/http://www.ksrtc.in/site/history|archive-date=17 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=About Us - Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation|url=https://kkrtc.karnataka.gov.in/page/About+Us/en|access-date=4 October 2021|website=kkrtc.karnataka.gov.in|archive-date=4 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004165120/https://kkrtc.karnataka.gov.in/page/About+Us/en|url-status=dead}}</ref>
This left the corporation to serve the Southern part of Karnataka.

* On 23 November 2009, Bijapur division was transferred from NWKRTC to KKRTC.
* On 1 November 2014, It changed to the present name Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation along with other organisations in the city.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reporter |first=B. S. |date=1 November 2014 |title=Bangalore is now Bengaluru |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/bangalore-is-now-bengaluru-114110100927_1.html |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref>

==Services==
[[File:Video of BMTC bus cleaning in bus depot, unit 33 (2024).ogv|thumb|right|Video of a BMTC bus being cleaned in bus depot unit 33, Purnapragnya Layout, Bangalore (2024)]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Name of the Service
!Description
!Manufacturer
!Gallery
|-
!Astra
|Non-AC electric bus service with a turquoise livery for JBM brand buses, violet-white for [[Ashok Leyland]]'s Switch brand buses and light blue-dark blue for [[Tata Motors|Tata Motor]]'s Starbus EV brand buses..
|
* JBM
* [[Ashok Leyland|Ashok Leyland's Switch]]
* [[Tata Motors|Tata Motors's Starbus EV]]
|[[File:Switch Astra.jpg|250px|BMTC Switch EV]]
|-
![[Bengaluru Sarige]]
|Non-AC bus service built on [[Ashok Leyland]], [[Tata Motors|Tata]] and [[Eicher Motors|Eicher]] urban chassis with a dark blue-white livery for [[Bharat stage emission standards|Bharat Stage IV (BS IV)]] and light blue-white livery or turquoise-white livery for [[Bharat stage emission standards|Bharat Stage VI (BS VI)]] connecting all parts of the Metropolitan region.
|
* [[Ashok Leyland]]
* [[Tata Motors]]
* [[Eicher Motors]]
|[[File: Bengaluru Sarige.jpg|250px|BMTC Bengaluru Sarige]]
|-
!Bengaluru Darshini (Bengaluru Rounds)
|AC bus service built on [[Volvo Buses|Volvo]] 8400LE urban chassis with a special livery of pencil sketch depiction of important sites in Bangalore on a white background. This service was introduced for sightseeing in Bangalore. It covered routes connecting about twenty landmarks of great historical, religious and scientific significance.
|
* [[Volvo Buses]]
|[[File:Bangalore bus portraying tourist attractions in Bangalore.jpg|250px|BMTC's Bengaluru Darshini]]
[[File:BMTC Bengaluru Darshini.jpg|250px|BMTC's Bengaluru Darshini]]
|-
!Metro Feeder
|AC and Non-AC services that act as feeders to major metro stations and provide last mile connectivity. They are usually prefixed with 'MF'.<ref name="Non AC/Ordinary Services Fares">{{Cite web |date=1 May 2023 |title=Non AC/Ordinary Services Fares |url=https://mybmtc.karnataka.gov.in/page/Services/Non%20AC%20Services/en |website=mybmtc.karnataka.gov.in |access-date=7 October 2023}}</ref>
|
* [[Ashok Leyland]]
* [[Tata Motors]]
* [[Eicher Motors]]
* JBM
|[[File:Metro feeder Midi bus(On Bengaluru Sarige Livery) in Vijaya Bank Layout.jpg|250px|Midi bus(On Bengaluru Sarige Livery) in [[Vijaya bank layout]]]]
|-
![[Vajra Bus, BMTC|Vajra]]
|AC bus service operated using [[Volvo Buses|Volvo]] 8400LE, Corona Skypak and [[Switch Mobility|Switch]] EiV 12 buses with a light blue livery running on important routes serving the tech parks, industrial areas, major bus stations and major residential areas.
|
* [[Volvo Buses]]
* Corona
* [[Switch Mobility]]
|[[File:BMTC Volvo 4530.jpg|250px|BMTC Vajra]] [[File: BMTC Corona AC.jpg|250px|BMTC Corona AC (Vajra)]] [[File:Vajra EV.jpg|250px|Vajra Electric Bus]]
|-
![[Vayu Vajra]]
|AC bus service built on [[Volvo Buses|Volvo]] 8400LE urban chassis with a light blue livery connecting 21 routes in the Metropolitan region to Bangalore's [[Kempegowda International Airport]]. Free Wi-Fi access is provided to the commuters on these buses.<ref>[http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=404982 BMTC to run Mercedes Benz buses on trial basis]</ref>
|
* [[Volvo Buses]]
* [[Switch Mobility]]
|[[File:Vayu Vajra 2.jpg|250px|BMTC's Vayu Vajra]] [[File:Vayu Vajra EV.jpg|250px|Vayu Vajra Electric Bus]]
|-
!Vegadootha Express
|Non-AC Express limited-stop bus service built on [[Ashok Leyland]], [[Tata Motors|Tata]] and [[Eicher Motors|Eicher]] urban chassis with a light blue-white livery for [[Bharat stage emission standards|Bharat Stage VI (BS VI)]] connecting the central parts to the periphery of the Metropolitan region. They are usually prefixed with 'EX'.
|
* [[Ashok Leyland]]
* [[Tata Motors]]
* [[Eicher Motors]]
|
|-
!Vajra Vistara
|AC bus service built on Volvo 8400LE urban chassis with a light blue livery. It was launched by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) in March 2026.Offers Express connectivity(Limited Stops) to suburban areas beyond 25km(40-50 km range) from the city center, such as [[Ramanagara]] and [[Kanakapura]]. They are usually prefixed with 'EX' in last place.eg:RMN-EX
|
* [[Volvo]]
|[[File:Vajra Vistara heading towards Ramanagara.jpg|250px]]
|}

==Former services==
*Parisara Vahini/Parisara Snehi: These buses had light blue and white, dark blue and white as well as grey colour livery with red graphics. These services have been merged with Bengaluru Sarige.
*Janti Vahana: These were non-AC vestibule bus service with a light blue and white as well as dark blue and white colour liveries. Currently defunct.
*Suvarna: These were non-AC bus service with a green or orange livery, similar fare to Jana Sarige buses served important feeder routes. Merged with Bengaluru Sarige but some buses continue to sport the older colours.
*Samartha/BIG Trunk: These were non-AC bus services green and black livery serving trunk routes from downtown to the suburbs. Merged with Bengaluru Sarige.
*Nera Sarige/BIG 10:[[File:Bangalore BMTC BIG 10 Bus.jpg|thumb|Bangalore BMTC BIG 10 Bus]]
These were non-AC bus services with a special green and bottle green livery serving 12 major corridors towards the [[Bangalore Central Business District|central business district]]. These buses are numbered with a '''G''' prefix. Merged with Bengaluru Sarige.
*Samvrutha/BIG Circle: These were non-AC bus service with a special white BIG Circle livery. These buses use to ply on [[Inner Ring Road, Bangalore|Bangalore Inner Ring Road]] and [[Outer Ring Road, Bangalore|Bangalore Outer Ring Road]]. Buses are numbered with a C prefix or a K prefix. Merged with Bengaluru Sarige.
*Atal Sarige: This was a non-AC Low fare bus service with an Indian tri-colour livery. Currently defunct<ref name="atalsarigeexpress">{{cite news|url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article124421.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222003229/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article124421.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 February 2014|title=CM flags off Atal Sarige for the poor|date=31 May 2009|work=[[Indian Express|Express Buzz]]|access-date=8 June 2009}}</ref><ref name="atallaunched">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/31/stories/2009053153650400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090701040059/http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/31/stories/2009053153650400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 July 2009|title='Atal Sarige' launched in Bangalore|date=31 May 2009|work=[[The Hindu]]|page=1|access-date=8 June 2009|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>
*Pushpak Sarige/Janapriya Vahini/Pushpak Plus: These were non-AC buses with a beige-white livery which plied with a driver-cum-conductor. The service was discontinued and the single door buses were converted to double door ones.
*Marcopolo AC, UD AC and Corona AC: These were services with a white or light blue livery which plied on select routes. The Marcopolo buses have been taken off service, while some Coronas have been rebranded as Vajra buses.
*Nimbus: These are Bengaluru Sarige and Vajra buses that plied on special bus rapid transit lanes. The only service between [[Silk Board junction|Central Silk Board Junction]] and [[Krishnarajapuram|Krishnarajapura]] was temporarily withdrawn and converted to Bengaluru Sarige service as the bus lane had to be closed down due to a decrease in width of [[Outer Ring Road, Bangalore|Bangalore Outer Ring Road]] for the construction of [[Namma Metro]] [[Blue Line (Namma Metro)|blue line]].
*Samparka: These are mini non-AC bus service built on [[Ashok Leyland]] and [[Tata Motors|Tata]] mini urban chassis with an orange livery connecting neighbourhoods to the nearby bus station. Usually covering shorter distances. Merged with [[Bengaluru Sarige]].

Note: The Parisara Vahini/Parisara Snehi, Suvarna Sarige, Samartha Sarige/BIG Trunk, Nera Sarige/BIG 10, Samvrutha Sarige/BIG Circle, Metro Feeder, Nimbus and Samparka still retain the same numbering and function despite the change in branding.

==List of depots==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
|-
! Sl. No.
!Depot Number
!Depot Name
!Division
!District
! Ref
|-
|1
|2
|Shanthinagara
| rowspan="3" |South
| rowspan="33" |[[Bangalore Urban district|Bangalore Urban]]
| rowspan="50" |<ref name=":46">{{Cite web|url=https://mybmtc.karnataka.gov.in/info-1/Depots/en|title=BMTC Depot Landline Nos}}</ref><ref name=":47">{{Cite web|url=http://test.mybmtc.com/en/officer-list|title=BMTC Officers List Landline Nos KN}}</ref><ref name=":48">{{Cite web|url=https://mybmtc.karnataka.gov.in/info-1/Officers+List/en|title=BMTC Officers List Landline Nos EN}}</ref><ref name=":49">{{Cite web|date=9 April 2018|title=Bengaluru BMTC Depots Map with contact numbers {{!}} {{!}} OpenCity.in|url=https://opencity.in/data/bengaluru-bmtc-depots-map|access-date=25 April 2021|website=Open City|language=en-GB}}</ref>
|-
|2
|3
|Shanthinagara
|-
|3
|4
|Jayanagara
|-
|4
|6
|Indiranagara
|East
|-
|5
|7
|Subashnagara
|Central
|-
|6
|8
|Yeshwanthapura
|North
|-
|7
|9
|Peenya
|North-West
|-
|8
|10
|Hennuru
|North-East
|-
|9
|11
|Yelahanka
|North
|-
|10
|12
|Kengeri
|West
|-
|11
|13
|Katriguppe
|Central
|-
|12
|14
|Rabindranath Tagore Nagara
|North-East
|-
|13
|15
|Koramangala
|East
|-
|14
|16
|Deepanjali Nagara
|West
|-
|15
|17
|Chandra Layout
|West
|-
|16
|18
|ITPL
|Central
|-
|17
|19
|Electronic City
|East
|-
|18
|20
|Banashankari
|South
|-
|19
|21
|Rajarajeshwarinagara
|West
|-
|20
|22
|Peenya
|North-West
|-
|21
|23
|Kalyannagara
|North-East
|-
|22
|24
|Krishnarajapura
|North-East
|-
|23
|25
|H. S. R. Layout
|Central
|-
|24
|26
|Yeshwanthapura
|North
|-
|25
|27
|Jigani
|South
|-
|26
|28
|Hebbala
|Central
|-
|27
|29
|Krishnarajapura
|North-East
|-
|28
|30
|Yelahanka
|North
|-
|29
|31
|Sumanahalli
|North-West
|-
|30
|32
|Surya City
|East
|-
|31
|33
|Poornapragna Layout
|West
|-
|32
|34
|Kothanuru Dinne
|South
|-
|33
|35
|Kannahalli
|North-West
|-
|34
|36
|Bidadi
|West
|[[Ramanagara district|Ramanagara]]
|-
|35
|37
|Kengeri
|West
| rowspan="2" |[[Bangalore Urban district|Bangalore Urban]]
|-
|36
|38
|Chikkanagamangala
|East
|-
|37
|39
|Hosakote
|North-East
| rowspan="2" |[[Bangalore Rural district|Bangalore Rural]]
|-
|38
|40
|Nelamangala (Makali)
|North-West
|-
|39
|41
|Gunjuru
|East
| rowspan="2" |[[Bangalore Urban district|Bangalore Urban]]
|-
|40
|42
|Kodathi
|East
|-
|41
|43
|Shivanapura
|North-West
|[[Bangalore Rural district|Bangalore Rural]]
|-
|42
|44
|Anjanapura
|South
| rowspan="2" |[[Bangalore Urban district|Bangalore Urban]]
|-
|43
|45
|M. S. Palya
|North
|-
|44
|46
|Sadenahalli
|North
| rowspan="2" |[[Bangalore Rural district|Bangalore Rural]]
|-
|45
|47
|Manduru
|North-East
|-
|46
|48
|Byrathi
|North-East
|[[Bangalore Urban district|Bangalore Urban]]
|-
|47
|49
|Bidadi
|West
|[[Ramanagara district|Ramanagara]]
|-
|48
|50
|Devanahalli
|North
|[[Bangalore Rural district|Bangalore Rural]]
|-
|49
|51
|Sadaramangala
|East
|[[Bangalore Urban district|Bangalore Urban]]
|-
|50
|52
|Uttanahalli
|North
|[[Bangalore Rural district|Bangalore Rural]]
|-
|}

==National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)==
BMTC unveiled a smart card for its bus services for the first time in June 2016. The company introduced smart cards on trial-basis on BMTC Bus No. 335 operating between Majestic and Kadugodi bus stations in March 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Get smart @ Rs 5|url=http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/get-smart-rs-5/articleshow/57380943.cms|website=Bangalore Mirror|access-date=28 February 2017}}</ref> Apart from serving as an identification document, the smart cards can be used to purchase bus tickets and also swiped at point-of-sale (POS) enabled merchant establishments. The card costs {{INRConvert|5}} and can be recharged for up to {{INRConvert|10000}}. Recharges higher than {{INR}}10,000 require the customer to provide identification. According to [[Axis Bank]], the BMTC's partner in the project, the smart card is India's "first open loop EMV contactless smart card". The cards "open-loop" structure allows other agencies to integrate their smart card schemes by adopting the standards of the BMTC smart card.<ref>{{cite news|author=Staff Reporter|title=BMTC smart card by February 15|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/BMTC-smart-card-by-February-15/article17197667.ece|website=The Hindu|date=5 February 2017|access-date=10 February 2017|language=en}}</ref> This scheme was finally dropped and integration with [[National Common Mobility Card|National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)]] is already under process. City's [[Namma Metro]] is already using NCMC and [[Bengaluru Commuter Rail|Bengaluru Suburban Railway]] will also be using it in future when the system is completed so therefore, one will be used to travel seamlessly across different transit modes in the city and its suburbs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bengaluru rolls out National Common Mobility Card |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/bengaluru-rolls-out-national-common-mobility-card-10311651.html |access-date=1 May 2023 |website=Moneycontrol |date=25 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BMTC commuters' wait for Mobility cards continues – The Softcopy |date=28 March 2023 |url=http://thesoftcopy.in/2023/03/28/bmtc-commuters-wait-for-mobility-cards-continues/ |access-date=1 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

==Bus Day==
Introduced on 4 February 2010, Bus Day is an event calling all the citizens of Bangalore to use public transport. The idea behind Bus Day is to observe the changes which can be brought in the city in trying to respect environment, traffic situation, health of individuals perception.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bangaloreaviation.com/2010/02/february-4th-is-bus-day-in-bangalore.html |title=February 4th is 'Bus Day' in Bangalore |publisher=Bangalore Aviation |date=1 February 2010 |access-date=28 August 2010}}</ref> The 4th of every month is observed as a "Bus Day".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/events/show/2010-bangalore-bus |title=Bangalore Bus Day- Feb 4th: Citizen Matters |publisher=Bangalore.citizenmatters.in |date=4 February 2010 |access-date=28 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414133606/http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/events/show/2010-bangalore-bus |archive-date=14 April 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Bus priority lane ==
BMTC along with BTP initiated the bus lanes between [[Silk Board junction|Central Silk Board Junction]] and [[Tin Factory junction|Tin Factory Junction]] on [[Outer Ring Road, Bangalore|Outer Ring Road]] branded as Nimbus. Bus lanes give priority to buses, cutting down on journey times where roads are congested with other traffic especially private cars and increasing the reliability of buses. The introduction of bus lanes can significantly assist in the reduction of air pollution due to individual cars and traffic pile up because of cars.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/operations-on-bus-priority-lane-stutters-on-first-day-of-trial-run/article29752181.ece | title = Bus Priority Lane Operational in Bangalore| newspaper = The Hindu| date = 20 October 2019| last1 = Kumar| first1 = Pranav}}</ref> Currently, the bus lane has been removed due to reduction in road width due to the ongoing work on [[Namma Metro|Namma Metro's]] [[Blue Line (Namma Metro)|Blue Line]] on the median.

==Welfare schemes==
[[File:BMTC-Shakthi-Yojana-Ticket.jpg|thumb|Ticket from Mayohall to Shivajinagara Bus Station under Shakti Scheme on BMTC bus]]
'Shakti Scheme' was announced by the [[Second Siddaramaiah ministry]] on 2 June 2023. It started on 11 June 2023, providing free-of-charge bus service to Karnataka-domiciled women. Beneficiaries show their government-issued photo identity and address proof for the first three months. Bus conductors issue them zero-fare tickets. Thereafter, beneficiaries obtain Shakti smartcards (named after the name of the scheme) through an application submitted via the government's [https://sevasindhugs.karnataka.gov.in/ Seva Sindhu website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002023018/http://sevasindhugs.karnataka.gov.in/ |date=2 October 2023 }}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 June 2023 |title=Guidelines released for free travel bus scheme for women in Karnataka |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/guidelines-released-for-free-travel-bus-scheme-for-women-in-karnataka-1225093.html |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

==Technologies==
To benefit the commuters and promote the usage of public transportation, the BMTC launched its Intelligent Transport System (ITS) on 25 May 2016.<ref>{{cite news|title=BMTC launches Intelligent Transport Solution|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/bmtc-launches-intelligent-transport-solution/article8645545.ece|access-date=25 May 2016|work=The Hindu}}</ref> Under this project, BMTC buses were equipped with [[GPS]] in a phased manner which would transmit the location of the bus to the ITS control room. On 20 May 2023, A [[mobile app]] called '''Namma BMTC''' was launched on the android and iOS platform which was made available in two languages, English and Kannada. The app provides information about bus routes and bus stops. Real time location of buses on a particular route can also be tracked, which requires the users to switch on the GPS on their device.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 April 2023 |title=BMTC app gets soft launch |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/bmtc-app-gets-soft-launch/articleshow/99648478.cms |access-date=21 June 2023 |website=Bangalore Mirror |language=en}}</ref> In 2017, BMTC would be introduced prepaid smart cards for commuting, which eliminated the need to pay the exact amount of change, this was not introduced widely, instead NCMC cards are proposed to be released as an open loop payment system.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 January 2023 |title=Has common mobility missed the bus? |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/has-common-mobility-missed-the-bus/articleshow/97359856.cms |access-date=21 June 2023 |website=Bangalore Mirror |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=BMTC to roll out smart cards in January|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/BMTC-to-roll-out-smart-cards-in-January/article16666898.ece|access-date=18 November 2016|work=The Hindu}}</ref> On 6 April 2022, Bus Passes started to be issued on '''TUMMOC''' mobile app, passengers have to scan the QR code in the bus to verify the pass bought on the app.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 April 2022 |title=Bengaluru: Buy BMTC bus pass on mobile app, show your phone to travel |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/bengaluru-buy-bmtc-bus-pass-on-mobile-app-show-your-phone-to-travel/articleshow/90691502.cms |access-date=21 June 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> In 2022, BMTC has also started to accept ticket payments using [[Unified Payments Interface|UPI]] in a ON and OFF manner, finally launching it properly in June 2023. A QR code card is either stuck in the bus or with the bus conductor, passengers can scan and pay for tickets.

An app named "Namma BMTC" launched in 2023 that allows users to track buses in real time, check schedules, plan journeys and calculate fare between stages.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Gour |first=Deeksha |date=26 September 2023 |title=Good News for Bengalureans: New Namma BMTC App To Offer Real-Time Bus Tracking and More |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/bengaluru/good-news-for-bengalureans-new-namma-bmtc-app-to-offer-real-time-bus-tracking-and-more-article-103954124 |work=Times Now |access-date=10 October 2023}}</ref> The app also includes an SOS feature for women to use in case of emergencies by alerting any nearby police station.<ref name=":0" />

==Karnataka's Road Transport Undertakings==
*[[Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation|KSRTC, Bangalore]]: Covers Southern Karnataka, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts.
*[[North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation|NWKRTC, Hubli]]: Covers North-Western Karnataka and Uttara Kannada district, excluding Bijapur district.
*[[Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation|KKRTC, Kalaburagi]]: Covers North-Eastern Karnataka and Bijapur district.
*BMTC, Bangalore: Covers Bangalore Metropolitan Region, including Bangalore Urban and parts of Bangalore Rural, Ramanagara, Kolar and Chikkaballapura districts. During festive rush seasons or other similar scenarios, Bengaluru Sarige buses are also allocated on Karnataka Sarige (Ordinary) Routes.

== Controversies and Corruption Allegations ==
In August 2025, it was reported that two women officers of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), the parent body from which KKRTC was carved out, were accused of collecting bribes from employees via digital payment platforms. The state's transport corporations are also facing significant financial stress and have sought substantial loans to clear pending bills, with the government's failure to reimburse costs for schemes like the "Shakti Scheme" contributing to their financial burden.[https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/bmtcs-ex-chief-traffic-manager-held-for-causing-a-loss-of-rs-1764-cr-6-other-officials-under-lens-2713171#:~:text=Police%20have%20arrested%20a%20former,(commercial)%20at%20the%20BMTC.]

There have been reports of corruption in job recruitment and transfers. In 2022, the KKRTC Chairman advised job aspirants not to bribe officials for positions, stating that the recruitment process was merit-based. An employee of KSRTC was suspended in July 2025 for allegedly forging signatures of senior officials to issue fake transfer orders for a fee.[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/kkrtc-staff-not-given-new-uniforms-for-three-years/articleshow/89462562.cms]

A dismissed KSRTC driver was arrested in a multi-crore job scam in 2021, where he allegedly cheated over 500 people with promises of employment. In 2015, allegations surfaced that officials were involved in irregularities related to scrapping roadworthy buses. [https://www.thenewsminute.com/karnataka/karnataka-contractors-threaten-to-halt-work-if-rs-33000-cr-dues-not-cleared-by-dec-1]

==See also==
* [[List of bus depots in Karnataka]]
* [[List of bus stations in Karnataka]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation}}
*[https://mybmtc.karnataka.gov.in/english Official website]

{{State agencies of Karnataka}}
{{State owned road transport companies in India}}
{{Bangalore topics|left}}

[[Category:Transport in Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Bus companies of India]]
[[Category:State road transport corporations of India]]
[[Category:State agencies of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Metropolitan transport agencies of India]]
[[Category:Companies based in Bengaluru]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1997]]
[[Category:Bus transport in Karnataka]]

Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation - Revision history

DeangeloWaley at 16:40, 7 May 2026