'Dirty and capitalist mentality': Ramalinga Reddy slams call to dismantle BMTC

Bengaluru: Transport and Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Tuesday criticised MP Tejasvi Surya and former CFO of Infosys Mohandas Pai for displaying a "dirty and capitalist mentality" towards public transport users by calling for the dismantling of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s (BMTC) "monopoly".

The minister’s response came during a press conference to address departmental matters and react to the duo’s "No More BMTC" remarks made at a private mobility symposium recently.

Reddy alleged that both Surya and Pai, who he said have "no experience" of public transport, were founders or closely associated with a private employee transport company, suggesting a conflict of interest and an intent to profit from public services.

"It is shocking, dangerous, and destructive to say, 'No more BMTC,' 'No more monopoly' at a symposium, which has no public interest and operates solely on a rental, for-profit basis for factories and companies," Reddy said.

He questioned the "invisible hands" behind the company and claimed that such speeches at private forums "naturally speak negatively" to discredit the government system.

The minister defended the BMTC as the "lifeblood of Bengaluru city", serving 48 lakh commuters daily, roughly one-third of the city’s 1.44-crore population. He said public transport is a key pillar of the Welfare State and cannot be seen merely as a business where private operators run only profitable routes.

"No public transport system in the world is run for profit. It is a service provided to the public through government incentives," he said, adding that the "dirty and capitalist mentality" was an insult to workers and employees, and the poor, vulnerable, and middle-class commuters who depend on BMTC buses.

Citing data, Reddy highlighted Karnataka’s lead in bus density among metro cities.

Impact of buses

Karnataka has 3.81 buses per 1,000 people, much higher than Tamil Nadu’s 2.70 and Maharashtra’s 1.32. The national average stands at 1.2.

He also highlighted the government’s flagship Shakti free bus travel scheme for women, citing a study that showed a 23% rise in female employees in Bengaluru and 21% in Hubballi-Dharwad. Around 19% of women have also begun working outside their homes, contributing to higher per capita income in the state.