State transport corporations, BMTC get 'Bus Bhagya'

The budget gave big bonanza to the state transport corporations and BMTC with a total of 6,250 additional buses set to be added to their fleet in 2017-18.

Of the 3,250 new buses for state transport corporations, the major chunk of 1,500 buses will go to Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KS­R­T­C), while North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) will get 1,050 and 700 buses, respectively.

Of the 3,000 buses allocated to it, the BMTC will buy 1,500 on loan, which will be repaid by the government along with interest. The remaining 1,500 buses will be procured on lease but the government and the transport corporation are yet to decide the lease model.

BMTC Managing Director Ekrup Caur said that many city bus transport corporations, including in Delhi and Gujarat, have been practicing lease model since it has proved to be cost effective. “We are yet to work out the details but whichever model it is, the BMTC will have complete control over the vehicle and the revenue generated through it,” she said. In addition to the 3,000 buses, the corporation will induct 1,658 buses previously allocated.

However, the BMTC managing director noted that the corporation has to scrap at least 1,500 buses by the end of 2017, including 999 buses scheduled to be scrapped last year.

Members of Citizens for Bengaluru (CfB) and Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike, who have been campaigning for increasing the BMTC fleet to 12,000, and reduction of fares, said they will appeal to all MLAs representing city segments to raise the issue in the budget discussion. “We will continue our efforts to reach out to the legislators and the government to push ‘Bus Bhagya’ forward with urgency,” forum members Srinivas Alavilli and Vinay Srinivas said in a joint statement.

150 electric buses for BMTC

The BMTC will get 150 electric buses while 50 more buses will be added to the city bus fleet in Mysuru. The electric buses will be acquired with assistance from the Centre.