Lot of space to sit,but none to keep luggage in new airport buses

Passengers baffled by removal of luggage racks from BMTCs Volvo fleet plying between city and airport 

When the Bangalore International Airport (BIA) was unveiled in 2008,the cynosure of all eyes was the Vayu Vajra fleet of Volvo buses introduced by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).The buses were described as air-passenger friendly as they were equipped with exclusive luggage space,played soothing music and came with soft-cushion seats.But four years down the line,the swanky fleet has turned passenger-unfriendly.First,the soft cushions were replaced with the ones that are found in ordinary blue-white BMTC buses.Next,the television screens and radio sets started disappearing.The latest feature to disappear is the exclusive metal racks meant for luggage.

Earlier,I could monitor my luggage by placing them on the racks.But now,I have to dump it in the aisle.I worry about my luggage being carried away by some other passenger getting off midway,increasing my anxiety level, said Sneha Ram,a marketing executive who uses the fleet to travel to HSR Layout.If you get a seat at the rear,you cannot keep an eye on your baggage.The problem gets worse at night when the lights inside the bus are switched off.With suitcases and bags fitted with wheels,the probability of them rolling over towards the rear door is high when the bus is swerving from one side to another.Many of my friends,who carry several bags,prefer to board a taxi. 

The metal racks vanished when BMTC replaced the red-coloured buses with BS4 eco-friendly green-coloured buses.Sources in the BMTC said,Earlier,the space near the rear door was hardly used.Hence,we offered it to store baggage.The metal racks were placed with seats in the new buses to earn some extra income. 

Transport minister R Ashoka said,Even in the old buses,passengers chose to keep the luggage near their seats or at the centre of the bus near the door.The buses were modified to accommodate more passengers."

However,passengers are unhappy.

I think the minister should board one of the buses to see how luggage gets piled up.If these buses are exclusively for airport users,it should be designed keeping their needs in mind, said one passenger.

The metal racks for luggage on the old red-coloured buses (below) have been replaced by seats (middle) in the new green-coloured buses (top)