BENGALURU: As the city battles growing traffic congestion and BMTC struggles to expand its fleets, many residents want the state government to allow private players to operate bus services in the city.
At present, stage carriage permit in the city is BMTC’s exclusive right and no other private operator is allowed to pick up or drop passengers like BMTC buses. However, BMTC, which has only 6,196 buses is struggling to cater the huge demand in the city and more worryingly the percentage cancellations of BMTC’s schedules has increased from 5.4 percent in 2012-13 to a record 14.7 percent in 2016-17.
There has been no substantial increase in the number of buses and staffs according to the growing demand (see graphics). In fact, the number of BMTC buses has reduced from 6,431 in 2012-13 to 6,196 now. In contrast, the number of vehicles in the city has more than doubled - from 28,41,152 in 2006 to 66,31,425 in 2016 (till November).
Many residents said entry of private players will end the monopoly of the BMTC buses.
“If the government is not ready to provide adequate buses, then why they are stopping others? App-based aggregators like Uber, Ola and Zipgo offer better services than BMTC buses. The presence of private players will bring healthy competition and will also encourage more people to switch over to buses from private vehicles, taxis and auto rickshaws,” said Revathy Ashok, chief executive and managing trustee of Bangalore Political Action Committee (BPAC), an NGO.
“It’s not feasible to select routes or book seats in advance in BMTC buses. It’s difficult to wait for BMTC buses for a long time and most buses are crowded during peak hours. I don’t mind taking a bus instead of my car if someone provides good service,” said Naveen Kumar, a resident of Shanthi Nagar.
BMTC officials are against the idea as they argue that private bus operators will operate on routes with high demand.
“We have social commitments like concessional passes for students, unlike private operators. We are also operating on loss-making routes,” said a BMTC official.
Cities like New Delhi and Mumbai are also planning to allow private players to operate bus services in the city. In New Delhi, Transport department is working on a policy where they will allow the app-based aggregators to take permit and run buses. The Delhi government will also frame rules and fare. The buses need to run on clean fuel and should have safety features.
Vinay Srinivas of Bangalore Bus Prayaanikara Vedike, an NGO fighting for better services, said the government should reduce the bus fares and increase the number of fleets. “This will attract more people to bus services,” he said.
Urban planner Ashwin Mahesh said the government is not keen to provide BMTC funds to improve its services. “BMTC could buy 4,000 new buses at Rs 1,890 crores, which is earmarked for the proposed steel flyover. Private players may be not obliged for public services but BMTC can rope in private players to run their buses,” he said.
Some bus passengers said entry of private buses may lead to rash driving and accidents and also raises security concerns especially for women at night.
