Bengaluru: For residents of Haralur and Kasavanahalli, the Metro just got more accessible. A new BMTC feeder loop — MF-22E and MF-22EA — now connects interior layouts to the Yellow Line.The initiative builds on earlier efforts to enhance intra-layout connectivity. While HSR Layout has had an internal feeder service for over two-and-a-half years, several adjoining residential pockets remained disconnected even after the Metro’s rollout in Aug 2025. This gap prompted residents and citizen groups to advocate for a more inclusive last-mile network linking interior areas to the Yellow Line.Launched on March 9 with prices ranging from Rs 6 to Rs 25, these buses cover areas with the Yellow Line station as the starting and ending point: Hosa Road Metro station, Choodasandra Circle, Silver County Road, Harluru village, Sarjapur Road, Iblur Junction connecting the Outer Ring Road, 27th Main in HSR Layout, before looping back via Somasundarapalya, Kudlu, Kudlu Metro station and Hosa Road Metro station.The route specifically serves localities such as Harluru, Kasavanahalli and other nearby interior stretches that previously had no bus connectivity, largely due to narrow roads. Despite this, these neighbourhoods have seen rapid residential growth, with an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 apartments and a rising commuter base.Lalithamba BV, civic volunteer, Community Task Force, said: “This was important because large interior areas like Harluru had absolutely no bus connectivity despite a huge residential population, forcing people to rely on private vehicles even for short distances. The idea was to connect these pockets to the Yellow Line and main roads, making daily commuting easier and reducing congestion.”At present, three buses operate during peak hours on the route, with a frequency of 35-40 minutes. While initial response has been encouraging, organisers say usage is still gradually picking up, partly due to school holidays and limited awareness. To address this, citizen groups have been actively promoting the service through social media and on-ground outreach.Mukund Kumar, founding member, Save Our Sarjapur campaign, said: “We’re working with BMTC to resolve operational issues like bus tracking, schedules and stop locations. We’re also pushing for improvements such as better bus stop placement near large residential clusters. Ultimately, reducing congestion will require both better public transport and a shift away from single-occupancy private vehicle use, and this feeder service is an important starting point.“Commuters say these buses save them from commuting in traffic. QuotesMeera K, commuter from KasavanahalliMost of our roads did not have any last-mile bus service; many were using their personal vehicles causing huge congestion. These feeder services are providing a better way to reach Sarjapur Road to catch other buses to their destination and Hosa Road to board the Metro Yellow Line. However, the buses are not tracked properly on the Namma BMTC app sometimes and the frequency is also an issue at peak hourBishnu Reddy, who uses the feeder bus to Hosa Road Metro station Earlier, I drove a car or two-wheeler through Harlur Road, which was stressful. Now, I just step out from Silver County Road, track the bus on the BMTC app, pay around Rs 10, and hop on. Even for short stretches, I no longer need my vehicle. The first ride was liberating — I could sit, relax and even work on my laptop. Now, I don’t feel like going back to using my car or bike — it’s hassle-freeA spokesperson from BMTC To meet the growing demand from commuters following the launch of the Yellow Line, we introduced this service. Since it is newly launched, we are currently monitoring ridership to gauge public response. If demand increases, we plan to expand the service
