BMTC cuts back on routes to save on costs

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has effected a cost-cutting drive by reducing bus services on certain routes. With back-to-back financial losses of Rs 140 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 137 crore in 2013-13, the BMTC is hoping to get out of the ‘red’ and earn some profits by means of its truncated service policy.

BMTC has done this without making any announcements to the public. But, be it ordinary or Volvo buses, there are fewer buses available for commuters during the afternoons.

The BMTC has termed this a ‘rationalisation’ exercise. But, in effect, the bus corporation is seeking to curb losses by cutting down services on select routes. As of now, considering its many problems including ageing buses, close to 100 buses have been pulled out of service.

According to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy: “We have to reduce the services on certain routes going by the revenue. For the first time, Volvo has made profit of about Rs 1 crore because we reduced plying of buses on certain routes in the afternoon. But commuters are not put into inconvenience,” he added.

BMTC MD Anjum Parwez said the corporation is trying to divert its bus services on routes which have 40 or more trips each day. “I have personally observed that on several routes, the buses have been running empty. This does not make sense to the BMTC or to the passengers as the buses are not utilised to their maximum capacity,” he said.

The BMTC is planning a continuous exercise of truncating services. Two routes are already witnessing a drop of 5 to 6 trips by buses or removal of a couple of buses are routes 335 and 276. While the 335 A route connects Kempegowda Bus Stand to Kadugodi, 276 bus route connects Kempegowda Bus Stand to Vidyaranyapura.