Bengaluru IT employees can now travel to Electronics City for free: Report

In good news for IT employees with offices based in Electronics City, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), in collaboration with the Electronics City Industrial Township Authority (ELCITA), has introduced a new electric bus service between the Silk Institute Metro Station and the tech hub that is completely free of charge. Launched on Monday, this service aims to further enhance last mile connectivity. It includes three daily trips and is designed to provide seamless transportation across the East and West zones of Electronic City, a report stated.
Officials representing ELCITA spoke to reporters on the matter and said the initiative is in response to the growing need for connectivity for daily commuters, especially IT professionals and industry employees residing in South Bengaluru. It also seeks to promote sustainable travel by reducing reliance on private vehicles and encouraging environmentally friendly alternatives, the report noted.
This is not the first effort to address connectivity on this 25-km route. In 2021, ELCITA introduced four free feeder buses when the Silk Institute Metro Station began operations. These buses have been used by 150-180 commuters daily. With the addition of the BMTC electric bus, ridership is expected to grow to around 300 passengers per day, the publication added.
The buses follow a fixed schedule. ELCITA buses leave Silk Institute Metro Station at 7:45am, 8:45am, 9:10am, and 9:30am, with return services departing from Electronics City in the evening at 4:45pm, 5:30pm, 6:00pm, and 6:20pm. Meanwhile, the BMTC bus departs at 8:15am and 5:15pm for morning and evening services, respectively, the report further stated.
An ELCITA spokesperson explained that while they initially proposed revenue services by BMTC, the plan fell through. Instead, ELCITA opted to charter an electric bus from BMTC under a two-month casual contract costing over ₹6 lakh. The service, however, is expected to cease once the Yellow Line Metro from RV Road to Bommasandra becomes operational, the publication said.
To further enhance connectivity, ELCITA has proposed six additional feeder routes from Konappana Agrahara and Infosys Metro stations to connect commuters with the upcoming Yellow Line.