BMTC to lease private buses, but will it help?

Bengaluru: Last month, the state cabinet approved leasing of 1,500 buses by BMTC at Rs 77 crore, using the public private partnership (PPP) model. 
A spokesperson from Transport Minister Revanna's office said, “The cabinet has approved it, but the processes are yet to be completed and there needs to be a government order. We will call for tenders in another 10-15 days to procure buses from private contractors.”

The BMTC is leasing private buses for the first time since 2005. But the transport corporation employees are not happy. 

“The buses leased from private contractors in the past were never maintained. Money was sanctioned, but the buses never lasted long on roads. There are many such buses under repair and in broken-down condition at the Katriguppe Depot and near Banashankari Metro station,” a source told Deccan Chronicle.

Pictures shared by the source show some of these leased non-AC blue and white buses abandoned and rusting. An RTI document reveals that the buses were procured from 62 private contractors in 1997, 1998, February 2000 and October 2001, 2002 and 2005. 

The employees allege that crores of rupees go unaccounted for with the leasing option and there is no real benefit for the public. 

“With the same amount, they can improve the quality of the existing fleet. They must spend funds on spare parts to prevent breakdowns, instead of leasing more buses and not maintaining them," a BMTC staffer opined. 

Asked about the quality of private leased buses, BMTC Chairman Nagaraj Yadav said, “Irrespective of purchased or leased buses, we will maintain 110 % quality.

Efficiency will not be compromised upon. The buses we plan to procure will include all digital features.” He denied the existence of any leased private buses abandoned and in broken-down condition at BMTC depots.