Bengaluru: The rejuvenated version of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s (BMTC) mobile app has drawn a mixed response from regular commuters. While users have welcomed the BMTC 2.0 app’s improved bus tracking and multimodal integration, some have also flagged certain limitations.BMTC upgraded the app with the aim of bringing multiple public transport services under a single digital platform. The app integrates ticketing, digital payments, bus passes, journey planning and live bus tracking. Commuters can also purchase BMTC digital tickets and Namma Metro QR tickets through the app.“The new app has made tracking a little better, but some features that were available in the older app are missing in the new version,” said Ashwin J Kumar, a commuter. He also pointed out that the new version is less user-friendly compared to the older app.He added that the new app does not have details if bus trips are cut short. “On many occasions, BMTC does not operate the full-length routes. In the new app, the 401 route’s cut trip between MS Palya to Chikkabanavara is absent,” Ashwin said.Another user, Amogh A, who travelled from Srinagara to Ganesha Bhavan, praised the new mobile wallet system and the e-ticketing feature integrated into the app, which allows users to preload money. “I did not receive a physical copy of the ticket, but got a digital copy in the app itself. Tickets are much easier now,” he said.However, commuters said the new app no longer allows users to track buses using vehicle numbers — a feature that was available in the previous version. “The developer needs to make the user interface more accessible for trip planning. They also need to enable an option for passengers to reverse the boarding and deboarding points, which is not available at present,” said Abhishek Vijayan, a regular commuter from BTM Layout.Along with the app, BMTC also launched the National Common Mobility Card facility for BMTC buses last Thursday as part of the state govt’s 100-day celebrations. This enables commuters to use a single card for travel on both BMTC buses and Namma Metro.One of the users, Rahul Obli, said he faced technical glitches multiple times Sunday while carrying out transactions using NCMC. Commuters also pointed out that conductors in certain depots are not trained to issue tickets using these cards. “On Sunday, I travelled in five different buses and I trained three conductors on how to carry out transactions using NCMC,” Rahul said.Some users have flagged similar issues on social media platforms as well. “Took a total of 11 buses, three of them failed. NCMC worked on 8…. In 10 of 11 (buses), I was the first guy with the card; conductors appreciated the card, the speed, and said we were told to accept it but didn’t know how to use it. Basically I trained them,” a user, Srikant, posted on X.
