Bengaluru: Transport minister Byrathi Suresh experienced first hand the problems routinely faced by the city’s bus commuters during a surprise inspection Saturday night, when a BMTC conductor asked him to get off the bus for not carrying exact change.Travelling incognito as part of a reality check of the city bus services, the minister boarded a BMTC bus from Hebbal to Nagashettihalli and requested two tickets. He handed over a Rs 100 note to the conductor, who asked for exact change. When the minister replied he did not have any, the conductor showed his cash bag, saying he too did not have sufficient change, and told the minister to get down if he could not tender exact change.The conductor was unaware that the passenger was the state’s transport minister, as Suresh was wearing a face mask during the inspection. Without replying to the conductor, the minister got down from the bus.Wearing a face mask, the minister travelled between 7.10pm and 9.10pm on routes covering Jayamahal, TV Tower, RT Nagar, CBI Road, Hebbal, Manyata Tech Park, Nagawara, Hennur, Hennur Bande, Byrathi Bande and Geddalahalli.The minister also briefly travelled in an autorickshaw from Nagashettihalli. Although the fare meter displayed Rs 30, the driver demanded Rs 36. When questioned, the driver reportedly said the meter would be recaliberated. The minister eventually paid Rs 40 before getting down.
