NEWS – ‘Bengaluru Darshini’ gains popularity; brings in revenue of over ₹70 lakh

HIGHLIGHTS

Introduction

• Service Launch: Introduced by BMTC in 2015 as a renamed hop-on-hop-off bus service.
• Purpose: Offers tourists a day-long tour of major Bengaluru attractions.

Initial Performance (2021)

• Patronage: Only 685 passengers in 2021.
• Revenue: Generated ₹26.27 lakh in 2021.

Growth and Improvement (2022)

• Increase: Tenfold rise in passengers, with over 6,400 passengers.
• Revenue: Increased to ₹32.97 lakh.

Recent Performance (2023 – April 2024)

• 2023: Over 8,100 passengers, revenue of ₹32.97 lakh.
• 2024 (up to April): 2,578 passengers, ₹10.42 lakh in revenue.

Strategies Implemented

• Post-Pandemic Marketing: Increased advertisements in newspapers and social media.
• Aggressive Marketing: Distributed pamphlets and highlighted multilingual drivers.

Tour Highlights

• Landmarks: Vidhana Soudha, Tipu Palace, Bull Temple, Lalbagh, Visvesvaraya Museum.
• Starting Point: Kempegowda bus stand.

Challenges and Potential

• Tourist Reach: Needs more extensive marketing to attract more tourists.
• Service Potential: High potential if backed by solid marketing strategies.

BMTC’s Efforts

• Increased Advertising: Enhanced promotional activities.
• Driver-Guides: Multilingual drivers enhance tourist experience, including foreign tourists.

‘Bengaluru Darshini’ is gaining popularity and showing promising growth, with BMTC focusing on marketing to further increase patronage and revenue. The service offers good value and convenience, potentially becoming a key attraction for Bengaluru tourists.