BMTC must be strengthened, not dismantled, say commuters

BENGALURU: Commuters and activists have opposed former Infosys CFO T V Mohandas Pais suggestion that the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) should be dismantled, saying that allowing private bus service will put a financial burden on the common man. Allowing private buses on roads will cause trouble for people. Private buses will ply on routes that are more profitable to them, ignoring the routes where fewer people commute in buses. BMTC buses ply on all routes irrespective of the percentage of commuters available on different routes, Shaheen Shasa, a member of Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike (BBPV), said. I agree that BMTC services have their drawbacks. But I believe that they can be fixed by changing policies and increasing investments. These shortfalls in the BMTC occur because the government is not investing enough in the public sector. Currently, there is a GCC model in the transport services where buses are contracted from private operators, including conductors and drivers. Through the GCC model, both private and government sectors are making good money. She added that if BMTC is dismantled, in the long run, the common public will be left at the mercy of private bus operators. We will not be able to hold them accountable for the quality of their service. There is no need to privatise the bus service. Whats needed is to improve the services that exist. Vinay Sreenivas, activist at the Alternative Law Forum, has been actively working in making urban transport better. He said, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya supported the idea of dismantling BMTC services. However, it was during the BJP regime in the state that BMTC services were weakened. They failed to recruit enough staff or add more buses to the fleet. They deliberately weakened the transport utility and are now calling it a failed organisation. He also stressed that BMTC services must be improved by making certain changes. If the government decides to dismantle it, then it will be the most disastrous decision. Private players will take routes with more commuters, leaving BMTC with routes that have fewer commuters. We must ask for more support from the government, traffic police, add more buses and build bus lanes to make it easier for commuters. Prathiba R, member of Karnataka Garment Workers Association, strongly opposed the idea of bringing private buses and dismantling BMTC services. She said, A person who has never travelled in a BMTC bus can only get these kind of ideas. Allowing private buses will be a burden to the garment workers and working-class labourers. A garment worker earns only Rs 12,800 per month and over 4 lakh women working in the garment sector in Karnataka. When inflation is at an all-time high, private buses and travel charges will only add to our financial burden. Let the government add more buses to the existing fleet, but not dismantle BMTC and allow private buses.