But who will discipline autorickshaw drivers?

Before taking on the challenge from the autorickshaws, the authorities have a crucial job to do: discipline the autorickshaw drivers.

"The key to weaning away commuters from personal transport and autorickshaws lies in advance planning to make mass rapid transport systems such as Metro Rail, Mono Rail and Bus Rapid Transport (BRT), a success," opined Dr A Ravindra, chairperson, Centre for Sustainable Development and former Chief Secretary. He was speaking at a seminar on "The Future of Public Transport" held earlier this week.

Dwelling on the challenges for the BMTC from the autorickshaws who enjoy "good ridership", Prof MN Sreehari, traffic engineering consultant and advisor, suggested that the BMTC identify and plug problem areas such as punctuality, reliability and accessibility.

Echoing the thoughts of lakhs of daily commuters, the Professor decreed that "the absence of a high-capacity mass transport system, coupled with limited road space, has led to an increase in traffic bottlenecks, longer travel time, higher accident rate and greater vehicle pollution."

Prof G Ramesh of IIM drew a roadmap for what he described as the reinvention of public transport and said the BMTC and KSRTC should showcase its record achievement of being among the very few profitable state transport undertakings to the world. Other STUs can learn from the measures introduced by them such as product differentiation, branding of high-end services such as introducing Volvo buses, and augmentation of its fleet.