3,000 more buses, wider footpaths planned to boost Bengaluru public transport: Maheshwar Rao - The HinduUpdated - October 08, 2026 10:41 pm IST - BengaluruGreater Bengaluru Authority Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao urged employers to encourage employees to use buses and the metro through incentives. | Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K.Bengaluru is aiming to add nearly 3,000 buses to its public transport network while improving footpaths and pedestrian access to encourage more people to use public transport, Greater Bengaluru Authority Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao said on Thursday.Speaking at the Mobility Symposium 2026, hosted by MoveInSync, Mr. Rao said: “Increasing the number of buses on the road and creating better walking infrastructure were among the city’s key mobility priorities. Most important is to increase the number of buses on the road. We are aiming to bring closer to 3,000 more buses in the city.”He emphasised that improving public transport capacity alone would not be sufficient and called for wider footpaths and better pedestrian access to help commuters reach bus stops and other public transport facilities. He also urged employers to encourage employees to use buses and the metro through incentives and work with technology park owners to improve public transport access.The discussions also focused on preparing cities for climate-related disruptions. Mr. Rao called for a long-term approach to Bengaluru’s urban drainage and outlined preliminary plans to identify locations for public heat shelters.The need to improve transport in Bengaluru’s rapidly growing outskirts was highlighted by Sharath Bache Gowda, Member of the Legislative Assembly from Hoskote and chairman of KEONICS. He called for formalising transport networks in satellite towns, pointing out that expensive and unorganised last-mile journeys between bus stations and homes can undermine the benefits of affordable public transport.Published - October 08, 2026 10:38 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }