Forum demands ‘sufficient’ budget allocation for BMTC

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Bus Prayanikara Vedike, a bus commuters’ rights forum in the city, held a signature campaign at the Majestic bus stand demanding betterment of the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).

They demanded sufficient budget allotment for the BMTC by Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai as the unaffordable fares, inadequate services and shortage of staff in the corporation currently are all a result of a policy that BMTC should operate out of its own revenue and be financially self-sufficient.

“BMTC immediately requires policy and financial support from the government,” the petition said. The petition made three specific demands. One is to make travel free for women, transgenders, senior citizens and students -- the most vulnerable communities in the city.

“Allocate the required funds to BMTC to implement this, which will cost approximately Rs 1500 crores. This allocation should be specifically for the free travel scheme and not for any other viability gap funding,” the petition reads. The second demand is to urgently lift the hiring freeze on BMTC and allow the corporation to hire 1,000 additional staff on its rolls.

The forum has called for the allocation of Rs 100 crore as adequate gap funding to cover salary costs. The final demand is to expand the BMTC fleet by 3000 more buses (in addition to any existing procurement plans) and hire adequate staff to run the newly formed fleet.

“Allocate the necessary capex (approximately Rs 1350 crores) and opex (likely an additional Rs 4,500 crore approximately over and above the amounts in 1 and 2) to BMTC as appropriate grants,” the petition said. BMTC has been operating with a fleet of 6,000- 6,500 buses. However, it needs 15,600 buses to cater to the 1.3 crore population of the city