Bus commuters beware

We all know that Bangalore is packed with people and people travel. The most used mode of transport is buses. BMTC providing this facility is doing a good job. They recently announced that they are making profit which is a healthy sign. The frequency of buses is good and also there are buses to remote places. Also public transport is the thing of the future as population is on the rise. It also is the sensible thing to do as it can lessen the ever-growing congestion in roads and helps to curb global warming.

Many people travel by buses. Assuming that the drivers are driving the buses cautiously it must be the safest way to travel. Well not entirely because it is infested with thieves. Especially a group whom I have encountered twice. For me it was a good luck bad luck type of scenario. Bad luck because thieves were near me (oh god!).Good luck because they entered after I had and left before my stop (thank god!).

They are about eight to ten in number and board the bus hurriedly and scold the foot boarders for not allowing space and meanwhile make the door look crowded so people get squeezed and they have to fight their way in and out of the bus. This is where they show their expert marksmanship as thieves. They are well dressed and look dignified and are strongly built men of middle age. They select relatively crowded door less buses in peak hours which are not hard to find. They don’t board the bus at starting point and alight before the last stop. One person goes through lady’s side and gets down from ladies door and everyone at the rear gets down. Don’t know what he does there.

There are many who fall victim. My father lost a hefty sum, my friend lost her purse with debit and credit card and my cousin his cell phone. My father’s colleague got hit in the back while he noticed his watch being lifted. If caught the group either blames the victim by complaining him of theft by transferring the loot on to the victim. Or beats one of their own and gets down with him.

I have had this unfortunate encounter in 401 series bus while traveling from yeshvanthpur to rajajinagar and in 25 series bus from BTM layout to jayanagar.Interestingly the conductor did not come near the gent’s side until they left. Commuters had to go there or were asked to pass money to buy tickets. I can’t speculate anything. May be he knew and was afraid of his and government’s valuable purse. Some BMTC officials and many commuters know about them but many more unfortunately don’t.

People going to interview, people carrying heavy cash for urgent needs to be fulfilled, daily wage earners, students with limited money travel in buses which are at stake from these wretched beings.BMTC officials need to look into this matter carefully. Volvo buses carry camera at the back but if it were inside other buses it would be more helpful. Its not easy but a thought can be spared. Many countries have this facility. The profits can be used to instate safety as people have to travel in buses which is inevitable and that too unfortunately middle class people.

Commuters need to be aware of this danger and be really careful of their valuable belongings and pray that they be spared. A concerned commuter.