In a first of its kind initiative, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) and the Bangalore Metro Transport Corporation (BMTC) on Tuesday came together and inked an MoU to provide “Common Day Metro-Bus Transit Passes” to commuters.

Under the MoU signed, two types of daily passes – “Saral and Saraag” – would be available to commuters who can travel by Metro as well as BMTC buses on payment of a prescribed fee for the day.

While Saraag daily pass has been priced at Rs 70, the Saral is at Rs 110, the Minister for Home and Transport, Mr R. Ashoka, who witnessed the MoU signing ceremony told reporters here. Saraag pass holders are entitled for limitless travel in all non-AC buses along with metro and in Saral, the commuter can travel by A buses of BMTC including Vajra along with BMTC buses, but excluding in Vajra and Vayu Vajra, the special service being provided to the airport.

BMTC and BMRCL have identified feeder routes for its six metro stations and these services would be provided to commuters by operating mini-buses.

The Metro will commence operation from April 4, Mr Ashoka said. The BMRCL Chairman, Mr Shivashailam, said the Metro project would be completed by 2013 and the work was well on schedule.

The tunnel digging and concreting machine will be deployed on Metro project from February 20 with first machine arriving in the city shortly and the second one will go into operation by March 20, he said.

The metro operations can witness a break even commercially in about seven to eight years, he said.

Mr Ashoka said the government has shortlisted eight firms for the Rs 1,300-crore Integrated Mass Transport System and RFP (Request for Proposal) would be invited within a week. The project envisages linking of all forms of transport including railways, besides creating parking space for more than 3,000 cars near the City Railway station.

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