MP Surya for putting brakes on Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation monopoly, min defends existing system
Bengaluru: Should private bus operators be allowed to make public transport in Bengaluru more robust and efficient?
This is the poser that dominated discussions at 'WSSTL-2025', a symposium on sustainable transport and liveability organised by the World Conference on Transport Research Society and the Indian Institute of Science on Thursday with many favouring ending the monopoly of Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).
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Bangalore South MP
batted for allowing private players along with BMTC. "Outdated rules brought out in the 1970's and 80's do not allow others to provide bus services in the city. In the last three years, I have received multiple representations to allow private players too. Uber, Ola and private companies wanted to run shuttle services and bus services, but it was banned in the state."
According to him, these rules don't allow anyone else to operate stage carriage services in the city.
"The existing system is against Bengaluru's interest," he said.
BMTC holds a monopoly over stage carriage operations within a 25-km radius of the BBMP limits. Despite being the primary mode of public transport, it has faced criticism for its stagnant fleet size—between 6,500 and 7,000 buses for over a decade—even as the city's total vehicle population has surged past 1.2 crore.
However, transport minister Ramalinga Reddy countered Surya stating that BMTC is one of the major transport carriers and the city doesn't need bus operations from private players.
He said: "Over 40 lakh people rely on BMTC buses every day. BJP has been supporting private companies at the cost of state-run organisations. During the UPA regime, state-run corporations were allowed to directly procure buses with subsidies but now under FAME and other others schemes, they are forcing corporations to rely on private players.
His (Surya's) statement is favouring private companies."
BMTC has a gross cost contract model under which multiple private players are running over 1,700 electric buses. Under PM e-Drive programme, BMTC is expected to get 4,500 e-buses. However, employee unions fear such models could pave the way for gradual privatization.
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