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Last updated: Oct. 20, 2011

BMTC acquiring eco-friendly buses

Rattling old crates finally being put out to pasture

Generations of BMTC buses on street.

By Shubhankar Chakravorty

BANGALORE (Oct. 20)—Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation has finally started replacing its fleet of old buses with environmentally friendly low-emission buses.

Not so long ago, after reports of BMTC acquiring some 60 old buses from Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation went around, and the company came in for criticism, BMTC withdrew its decision.

“Previous reports of acquiring old buses have been done away with,” said G.G. Hegde, a BMTC official. “Now BMTC is looking forward to acquiring new vehicles in accordance with the Bharat Stage IV emission standard, and soon.”

BMTC plans to add 1,000 new buses to its fleet, after a long interval. BMTC has long been facing problems with acquiring new buses, more so since the emission standards dictated by 2010 central government act restricted procurement of vehicles to those compliant with the BS IV standard.

M.P. Prabhudas, a chief traffic manager at the BMTC said: “We are acquiring 1,000 BS IV buses. Five hundred will be operational on the street, and 500 will be kept for replacement.”

Recently, with companies like Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland bringing out BS IV vehicles, BMTC is planning a major overhaul of its fleet. BMTC currently runs around 6,100 buses, of which close to 10 percent are unfit for operation, having clocked up 800,000 kilometers or 10 years of service.

Hegde also revealed that the BMTC plans to organize special training for its drivers and conductors to familiarize them with the technology of the new vehicles.

“Studying in Bangalore for three years, I have noticed incidents of buses breaking down on street go up,” said Vinu Narayanan, a resident of Bangalore. “The new buses will be helpful for commuters and in reducing pollution too.”

However, Hegde said that no decisions have been taken so far about how to scrap the old buses, hinting they might stick around for some more time.

Prabhudas agreed saying, “The old buses will be replaced in phases as the BS IV buses are included.”