BMTC Plans Major Expansion Of Bengaluru Bus Services
23 Sep 2025 CW Team
The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is planning a major expansion of its city bus services to meet growing commuter demand amid the city’s rapid urban sprawl. The BMTC board has cleared, in principle, a proposal to extend coverage from the current 25 km to a 40 km radius from the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) boundary.
If approved by the government, the expansion will bring BMTC buses deeper into suburban and rural areas, including Ramangara, Kanakapura and Magadi taluks in Bengaluru South, as well as Devanahalli, Doddaballapura and Nelamangala in Bengaluru Rural. Future phases may extend services up to Malur and 10–15 km beyond Anekal, near the Tamil Nadu border.
Currently, BMTC operates around 250 long-distance and express buses connecting towns such as Magadi, Doddaballapur, Chikkaballapur, and areas beyond Devanahalli. The planned expansion will be supported by 4,500 electric buses under the PM-e-Drive scheme, raising BMTC’s fleet from 7,000 to over 10,000 vehicles.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy noted that the initiative is a response to rapid urbanisation and increasing commuter needs. However, the expansion may impact Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), which currently operates express services to several suburban areas.
Under the new Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) framework, the Karnataka government has implemented reforms to manage the city’s growth and infrastructure pressures. Established in 2025 under the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, the GBA has replaced the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) as the primary civic authority.
Bengaluru is now divided into five municipal corporations — Central, North, East, West and South — each overseen by the GBA to decentralise decision-making and improve service delivery. The GBA’s jurisdiction spans over 700 sq. km, with potential future expansion to include peripheral villages and suburbs, ensuring coordinated urban planning, transportation, land use and civic services across the metropolitan region.