Karnataka Minister Flags Safety Issues, Seeks Review of E-Bus Operations Under GCC Model

The Karnataka government has expressed concerns regarding safety and operational failures in the city's electric bus transport. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has requested the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries to conduct a detailed review of the private operators operating electric buses under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model.

The minister pointed out that operators operating buses procured under the FAME II and CESL schemes have not been able to deliver the expected service standards. The main problems are weak driver training, missed maintenance, recurrent mechanical breakdowns and more accidents involving electric buses than traditional diesel fleets.

Currently, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has over 7,000 buses, of which approximately 1,600 are electric. Official statistics show that electric buses show higher breakdowns per lakh kilometres compared to diesel counterparts. The minister had referred to this difference as an indication of poor maintenance and weak monitoring by the operators.

Reddy also highlighted staff shortages. Under the GCC agreement, each bus should have 2-3 personnel assigned, but most operators deploy fewer. He said this shortfall affects maintenance response times, safety checks and overall service reliability.

The review by the government will concentrate on accident history, driver readiness and maintenance routine. It will also investigate if the cost-per-kilometre model applied in GCC contracts has caused operators to compromise on training and service standards.

The officials stated that various breakdowns have been attributed to battery failures and untimely component replacements. Inadequate trained technicians for electric powertrains have also added to downtime periods. The transport department intends to prescribe stricter maintenance guidelines, certified driver training programs and scheduled safety checks. 

The minister's statement highlighted that whereas Karnataka favors electric mobility, the safety of passengers cannot be jeopardized. The state will look for new norms of compliance on all future agreements, including joint monitoring committees between state and central organizations.

Electric buses continue to be at the center of India's clean-mobility plan, but Bengaluru's operational errors highlight the necessity of more stringent monitoring. The forthcoming review could result in altered contract conditions and higher accountability measures for private operators operating public transport fleets.

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