BENGALURU:The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is likely to invite private firms to operate 1,500 buses in the city on allocated routes and remunerate them on a per km basis. Among the pre-conditions likely to be set by BMTC for the private operators include providing A/C, Wi-Fi and GPS facilities apart from advance seat booking option.
The move is expected to get back the passenger traffic from app-based cab aggregators who are cutting into BMTC’s revenues. While private operators will have to look after operation, maintenance and driving staff, BMTC will provide conductors for the operation of bus.
“Our conductors will collect fares fixed by BMTC from the passengers. The private operator will have to appoint qualified drivers with valid driving licence” said a senior BMTC official.
“We will also be able to reduce the operational costs as operating buses on lease will be economical compared to running and maintaining our own buses,” the official said.
The transport utility, which has not added any new buses since December 2014, is forced to operate aged buses. This results in breakdowns that cause traffic congestion, especially during peak hours, and also rise in the cancellation of schedules.
Officials say the Transport Department will have to issue stage carriage permits to private firms. The department recently stopped the introduction of shuttle services on the grounds that intra-city transport was the BMTC’s lookout.