Civic Experts Urge Dedicated Auto Bays at Bengaluru Metro and Bus Stops

Bengaluru commuters and pedestrians face persistent safety risks as auto rickshaws frequently park inside BMTC bus bays and outside Metro station gates across the city, prompting civic experts to urge authorities to introduce planned, designated pick-up spaces.

When auto rickshaws occupy designated bus bays, BMTC buses are forced to halt in the middle of the road. This practice blocks moving traffic and pushes pedestrians onto active carriageways, creating severe hazards for transit users, children, and senior citizens.

Urban road guidelines under the IRC:SP:118-2018 manual recommend placing intermediate public transport and auto rickshaw stands within 150 metres of mass-transit exits, while bus stops and vendor zones are recommended within 50 metres. Although Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited maintains a policy for pre-fixed auto booths at select stations, many drivers bypass designated stands to wait directly near entry points and bus shelters to solicit passengers.

Civic enthusiast Dhruv Nagarajan noted that Metro stations have wide entrance areas that can be better utilised for dedicated auto and cab pick-up points. Citing Goraguntepalya as an example where dedicated spaces reduce vehicle conflict, he stressed that infrastructure design, driver education, and consistent enforcement are essential.

Raghavendra Poojari HS, Program Lead at B.PAC, emphasised that auto rickshaws remain vital for last-mile connectivity and that unorganised parking, rather than the vehicles themselves, creates the problem. He called for a pedestrian-first approach featuring clearly marked auto bays close to stations while keeping footpaths and bus stops completely unobstructed.

Mobility crusader Vinod Jacob pointed out that bus stops located near traffic signals and flyover entry points worsen bottlenecks when blocked by waiting autos. He suggested shifting auto stands to service roads and dedicated off-street spaces near transit hubs to maintain smooth vehicular flow.