Living in Sarjapura: A Comprehensive Guide to Bus Commute in Bengaluru!
50kms away from the Airport, and 30km away from Bengaluru’s Central Railway Station — moving to Sarjapura is certainly daunting!
Bengaluru’s traffic is infamously known for being one of the worst in the country. Paired with rising fuel prices, and ridiculously high cab fares, commuting in the city with ease may seem near impossible. Especially if you live in what’s deemed to be the outskirts of the city — like Sarjapura.
After over a year of keen observations, trial and error, and rigorous travel all across the city, I present to you the ‘Comprehensive Guide to Bus Commute in Bengaluru’ for residents living in Sarjapura. With this, I wish to shed some light onto the robust BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation) bus system that exists in our city and how you too can find solace in commuting!
Whether you’re a student or a young professional who recently moved into Bengaluru, or even an older, more skeptical native who wishes to revisit BMTC; there should be something for everyone in this guide.
A side note to those reading from APU: The premise for wanting to write this article stems from me being a student of Azim Premji University myself. Having moved to Sarjapura in 2021, I was initially overwhelmed by the far-off location of our new campus. Additionally, being the first batch of students to experience the area first-hand, an added responsibility for us was to set the stage for upcoming batches! A year has passed now, and I am confident to share that the location of our campus is great, and truly allows us to experience Bengaluru to its fullest, thanks to BMTC!
Feel free to glance through the article and hover over sections that appeal to you the most. From Whitefield to Banashankari, Yelahanka to Electronic City — I have tried my best to cover every corner of the city with some of my recommended routes and other miscellaneous tips you may find helpful. As with most things, information here might rapidly become dated. I aim to keep this page as dynamic as possible with regular edits and consultations from experts who commute through certain routes regularly.
Just a heads up: Google Maps, and a lot of trial and error served as my primary guide to bus commute. I would suggest the same to anyone else who may not have the patience to run through this article. Simply put in your desired destination and follow the instructions provided by the app.
Additionally, with proposed live tracking of BMTC buses, and various other apps such as Tummoc and Moovit (more on this later) that are dedicated to making your commute easier; having them readily installed on your phone would certainly help! Follow the Twitter thread below that offers all you need to know!
But why buses? Doesn’t Bengaluru have a metro? Or suburban rail?
Namma Metro’s (Bengaluru’s rapid transit system) progress has unfortunately been slow so far. With only two lines currently running, i.e Green and Purple, we at Sarjapura may not see the metro for at least a decade as it’s only been planned for the next phase.
The image below illustrates the same.. we’re all the way at the bottom right corner, at the far South-East. Click here for the higher resolution image.
Additionally, Bengaluru’s much awaited Suburban Rail project has only recently begun after PM Narendra Modi’s visit earlier this year! An ambitious deadline of 2026 has been set, but only time will tell if the project matches its desired timeline.
Thus, in the meantime the only reliable means of public transport for residents of Sarjapura remains to be the bus!
Locating Sarjapura!
According to ‘Askew — A Short Biography of Bengaluru’, which is a book I would recommend to anyone interested in learning more about Bengaluru, Sarjapura was historically always outside Bengaluru. This is unlike Whitefield, a neighboring locality experiencing similar urban trends which has had historical links to Bengaluru in the past. Referring to the map above, you may notice Sarjapura’s location at the far South-East of Bengaluru, almost touching Tamil Nadu’s border.
Thus, in the outskirts, or the peri-urban part of Bengaluru — Sarjapura, or Sarjapur has synonymously, and wrongly been used to describe areas like Kaikondrahalli, Doddakannalli, Kodathi, Dommasandra and other villages that lie on Sarjapur main road. Additionally, only recently after a proposed delimitation of wards did most of these villages integrate to Bengaluru’s Civic Body, BBMP. Even then, the proposed BBMP limits stop at Carmelaram, beyond which is Panchayat territory!
Sarjapura main road’s urban transition has been chaotic. Rapidly developing into a hotspot for commercial complexes and residential projects due to the IT Boom; infrastructural development here has been a real challenge. At the time of writing this, Bengaluru is going through one of the worst monsoons in recent years with flooding and traffic worse than ever! A gated society in Sarjapura, called Rainbow Drive even had its roads completely submerged under water with its residents needing to rely on tractors to get out of the front gate. The reasons cited for the poor infrastructure here are many. From encroachment of lakes, rajakaluves, and even haphazard clearances from relevant authorities given to builders, the mess Sarjapura main road is in is a story for another day.
Therefore, commuting here is not the easiest, and external factors constantly make things worse. While buses run through the main road, the interiors are unserviceable/neglected due to a variety of reasons. This leads to most commuters needing to bring out their private vehicles, or rely on cabs which create traffic jams that stretch on for miles. Needless to say, this is not just terrible for the environment, but also affects the quality of our lives enormously. Afterall, who wants to spend the majority of their day on the road?
In any case, living away from the main road may have one struggling with last mile bus connectivity. This issue continues to be a major obstacle for public transport to truly kick-off, in any city! Not just Bengaluru.
The Sarjapura main road stretch is one that begins all the way in Koramangala, near St. John’s Hospital and extends all the way to the actual Sarjapura town, near Tamil Nadu border! It is a road that is well over 20kms and is divided into Sarjapur-Marathalli road, before Iblur Junction, and Ambalipura-Sarjapur road after Iblur Junction. In case you live in any of the areas that lie on either of these roads, it’s probably for the best to be absolutely specific, rather than just saying ‘Sarjapura’!
Let’s talk about Commute!
Travelling is expensive. If we’re not paying in the form of money, we are most definitely putting in a lot of time and effort. The tradeoffs while using public transport in whichever part of the world you’re in is the same. It’s certainly the cheapest option out there, but may not be the most time efficient, comfortable or even safest option for you to commute.
In Bengaluru, the combination of the three — money, time, and effort leads to tremendous frustration. If you are someone who has had the unfortunate experience of driving, or riding on most roads in Bengaluru, particularly during the rains you might know exactly what I am talking about! Bengaluru’s traffic and roads make headlines for all the wrong reasons on a daily basis. However, it is important to note that the situation is not one that cannot be controlled. Opting for public transport is a sure cut way of reducing congestion on roads.
Additionally the benefits offered to us and our environment are countless. BMTC and other public transport activists have been working tirelessly to promote public transport in the city. Lately we have seen increased bus routes, addition of electric buses, feeder buses and a lot more! Thus, some of the main drawbacks of using public transport are constantly being addressed and worked upon. Head on over towards the end of the page to learn more about some of the tips to help make your commute smoother!
Bus routes and timings!
Spoiler alert: The bus you see below is all you need to get to a majority of your destinations. Presenting.. 342F!
Beginning at Sarjapura bus stand, this bus has around 50 bus stops and takes over an hour and a half to complete its journey and reach its final destination, Majestic. The maximum fare you need to pay to board this bus is 45rs one way, and in case you opt for a day-pass or monthly-pass, you would find it to be even cheaper! It’s alternatively called V-342F, which simply stands for Vajra. Scroll below to see its schedule!
Bengaluru International Airport
Opting for Vayu Vajra, also known as KIA (Kempegowda International Airport) buses could currently be the best way to reach the airport! Unfortunately, due to the lack of awareness of its timings, as well as its origin points, commuters tend to use cabs and pay nearly 10 times the amount it would take on the bus!
For those in Sarjapura, KIA-8D is your best bet to the airport. Starting at Wipro (Kodathi), the timings are as follows.
KIA-8D (Wipro SEZ in Kodathi to Airport)
09:00, 10:40, 16:00, 17:40, 23:00
However, in case this isn’t a feasible option for you, here are some of the alternatives apart from cabs.
- Boarding KIA7A from HSR BDA Complex. Use 7760991267 to communicate with the helpline desk to coordinate with the bus drivers.
- Boarding 342F, which runs at a very high frequncy to Majestic bus stand/Shantinagara TTMC and boarding KIA from there.
Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic)/KSR Bengaluru
The main bus station in Bengaluru, you will find buses to nearly every area of the city from Majestic. Additionally, it is also opposite KSR (Bengaluru’s Central Railway station) also houses its Interstate Bus Stand where the wonderful KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) is!
Reaching Sarjapura from here is remarkably easy. With regular Vajra (AC) buses and non AC buses shuttling back and forth, the recommended bus from here is 342F.
V-342F
The flagship bus of Sarjapura, 342F (Vajra) is the go-to bus to get to most points in the city. It runs through the 20km stretch of Sarjapura main road and beyond, through other switch points such as Shantinagara all the way to the heart of the city, Majestic. The best part? It costs just 45rs.
Its alternative bus is the non AC variant of the same name, but priced cheaper at 25rs if you’re travelling all the way. You will find these buses running very frequently on weekdays. However, its weekend timings are not as regular, nor are they public. Watch this space for more updates regarding the 342F (Vajra) bus schedule on weekends!
Koramangala
Housing some of the best cafes and restaurants, Koramangala is a popular destination for anyone wanting to explore what Bengaluru has to offer! Visiting Koramangala is fortunately super convenient and easy for us. Here are a few buses that get you there for within 25rs.
G2
Running at a frequency of every 15–20 minutes, your trip to Koramangala would be sorted by boarding the G2 bus. Cutting through Koramangala 1st block and Sony World Signal, this bus can also serve you well if you wish to travel to Indiranagar or MG Road, with Mayo Hall, which is very close to MG Road being its final destination.
342H/342F/342A
The 342 series of BMTC buses are those that run through Sarjapura main road. Most of them cover the entire stretch, but some stop midway at places like Doddakannali or Dommasandra.
Here are a few regularly running buses apart from 342F that take you all the way to St. John’s Hospital located in Koramangala!
342H runs at roughly a 30 minute frequency with the final stop being St. John’s Hospital! Thus, you can consider this to be your own personal shuttle to get to Koramangala.
342A is another popular bus route that ends at another major bus station called KR Market. 342A also runs through Lalbagh Botanical Garden, so make sure you use 342A at least once to visit Lalbagh!
Overall, 342A very high frequency, and stops by the same stops around Koramangala as the 342F — such as Agara, Jakkasandra, Koramangala 1st Block, Koramangala Water Tank, St John’s Hospital, etc.
MG Road/Brigade Road/Church Street
G2
G2’s final stop is Mayo Hall, which is a 5 minute walk from any of the above mentioned areas. The frequency is great, and runs every 15 minutes or so. Since MG Road is well connected to the Metro, this can also be a great switching point to visit any places that are connected by Namma Metro!
Alternatively, you can also board 342F which would take you to Corporation/Shantinagar — where you have the option to board another bus, or even take a long walk to your desired destination.
Indiranagar
G2/201
Taking a G2 to Sony Signal in Koramangala, and boarding a 201 from there is a sure cut way to get you to Indiranagar. It is extremely reliable and runs at a great frequency.
342F/342A to Koramangala Water Tank followed by 201 series
From Koramangala Water Tank, you will be greeted with a range of 201 buses heading towards Indiranagar.
Whitefield
328H
Any bus moving ending at Hoskote runs through Whitefield. The number to remember here is 328. A thing to remember here is that unlike the other buses mentioned here, the 328 generally begins at Attibele. Thus, they tend to be filled by the time they reach Sarjapura.
Banashankari/JP Nagar/Jayanagar
The ‘old’ part of town as some people describe it, is classic Bengaluru with massive trees and beautiful greenery! I have clubbed areas surrounding Banashankari, such as JP Nagar, Jayanagar, Basavanagudi, etc. in this section due to the presence of the Namma Metro Green line, so getting to neighbouring areas wouldn’t be a problem at all! Getting here is a lengthy commute via bus and generally requires you to switch buses at least once.
500CF
A rare bus that takes you straight to Banashankari from Sarjapura! Its timings are not the most reliable, and it is not frequent at all so I wouldn’t recommend waiting for one. But, in case you find it, enjoy your direct bus!
342 series to Agara Junction, 500CA from there to Banashankari
Given the low frequency of the 500CH, getting to this part of town generally needs switching. You could take any bus to Agara Junction, and quickly make your way to the service road, where buses moving to Banashankari stop. Here, you will be greeted with regular 500CA(Vajra) buses that head to Banashankari! There are also various other 500 series buses that are very regular, but make sure you ask where the final stop is as some stop at Central Silk Board.
Bellandur/Marathalli/Tin Factory
500CH
The recently introduced 500CH wishes to ease the burden on the tech corridor by connecting Sarjapura to Tin Factory! This route is great. Regular in its frequency and runs through the arguably the worst traffic prone area in the city. With tickets priced at 25rs, getting to Tin Factory is a good idea in case you need to board a train from KR Puram or need to get to anywhere else in the Eastern part of the city!
Alternatively, you could take any bus that stops at Iblur Junction, also known as Sarjapura Signal and take a 500 series bus towards your desired destination!
This is also a good switch point to travel towards the direction of HSR Layout and Silk Board. However, the bus stop is currently situated on the main road without a dedicated waiting area. Thus, be careful and watch your step while deboarding as the speeding traffic behind you may not realise it’s currently a de facto bustop.
Electronic City
328H to Attibele
Getting to Electronic City from Sarjapura bus stand would require a minimum of two buses. You would need to go to Attibele first, and from there board another in the direction of Bengaluru city.
KBS3A/360B/600F to Electronic City
A range of buses run from Attibele to the city. Any of the above options would take you through Electronic City.
Yelahanka
Getting to Yelahanka is difficult. It’s a cross country trip that takes a minimum of two hours including a mandatory bus switch!
342F to Majestic followed by 285 series to Yelahanka
It would cost you a minimum of 50rs, contrasted with a cab fare which would be around 1,500rs!
Tips!
Would there be enough place to sit? Does the schedule account for traffic? What about the AC bus? Would they accept UPI payment for tickets?
This section shall be my attempt in answering some of these commonly asked questions!
With apps such as Tummoc, Moovit, and other citizen run initiatives such as FriendsofBMTC, Bus4Us, Bus Prayanikara Vedike, and more.. we can be rest assured to know that BMTC buses have a wide fan following in the city, constantly pushing the authorities to get better!
I would urge you all to join the Telegram group called ‘Friends of BMTC’ that is linked here. You will be able to find answers to any of your questions relating to buses, along with the handy citizen run initiative of providing live tracking of buses!
Plan ahead!
If you’re travelling anywhere in the city, it’s always best to plan ahead if you wish to have the smoothest experience getting to your destination. While cabs offer you comfort, the general trend of cancelling and surge prices is not something you will find in BMTC! If you are in a place that allows you to leave early, give it a shot as BMTC buses start as early as 5AM! I have often taken the bus early in the morning before the peak hour congestion hits the streets of Bengaluru!
Go Digital! Buy a bus pass!
Opting for Tummoc’s digital pass is a great idea if you see yourself needing to commute regularly. You get to save a lot of money and also save yourself the stressful hassle of transacting cash with the bus conductors.
Fortunately, every bus is equipped with a QR code that can be easily scanned and work as your bus! Other perks of having a pass exist too.
Imagine you are in a super crowded bus, your destination is over an hour away, but you find yourself spotting a relatively empty bus just behind you. You could quickly make the shift to that bus in your next stop without needing to pay extra! This can also be applicable for buses that may not take you to the last mile.
Backtrack if needed
If you are blessed with ample time, I would advise you to visit your nearest TTMC (Traffic Transit Management Centers), or bus origin point if it’s not too far away, even if it means you need to go the other direction. Boarding a bus from the origin will make your journey so much more comfortable and offer you the much required time to make your journey productive! From catching up on podcasts, or reading, watching videos or even sleeping! Your commute time can be maximized to its fullest if you are comfortably seated. So, what are you waiting for? Give BMTC a shot today and share your experiences!
