Karnataka Transport Minister flags safety, service issues in Bengaluru's e-bus network
Bengaluru, Oct 27 (PTI) Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has urged Union Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy to review the performance of operators running electric buses under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, citing "safety lapses" and "poor service standards" in Bengaluru’s e-mobility network.
In a letter dated October 25, Reddy raised concerns over the performance of GCC operators functioning under schemes such as FAME II (Faster Adoption & Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India), CESL (Convergence Energy Services Limited), Smart City Project and Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023-24.
CESL's model of aggregation-based procurement under a Gross Cost Contract (GCC) framework ensures both efficiency and affordability. Under this model, private operators will own, operate, and maintain the buses, while city authorities will pay a fixed per-kilometer fee.
While Reddy appreciated the environment friendly initiative of electric mobility in public transport across the nation and particularly in Bengaluru, the minister said that he was writing with a "sense of pressing concern and compelling urgency regarding the operational efficacy and service discipline of certain GCC operators" who have been entrusted with the deployment and operation of electric buses in Bengaluru.
“The performance of operators under GCC, predominantly Original Equipment Manufacturers such as NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam, Tata Motors Limited (TML), Switch Mobility, and their associated operating entity, OHM Global Mobility, has fallen significantly short of the standards expected from industry leaders of their stature,” the minister said in his letter.
He claimed that the operators have "failed" to address critical issues such as lack of structured driver training, poor maintenance, frequent cancellations, breakdowns, battery-related problems and insufficient driver preparedness, leading to rise in accidents and repeated flash strikes.
Reddy also pointed out that against the proposed minimum manpower deployment of 2.3 personnel per bus, operators have been deploying only 1.9 to 2.0 personnel per bus as a cost-cutting measure, which has “stained the reputation of BMTC and, by extension, the image of Bengaluru as a progressive metropolis.”
“This glaring gap has rendered frontline personnel ill-equipped to uphold even the most basic standards of service excellence,” he said.
The minister noted that BMTC currently operates about 65,000 trips every day with 7,067 buses — 5,423 diesel-powered and 1,644 electric. While diesel buses maintain a strong safety record with accidents at 0.05 per lakh kilometres, electric buses have recorded a higher accident rate of 0.07 per lakh kilometres, he said.
He urged the Union Minister to initiate a performance review of GCC operators under FAME II, CESL and other projects, with particular emphasis on breakdowns, safety compliance and driver training.
Reddy recommended to include binding clauses in future tender documents, mandating comprehensive and certified driver training protocols by GCC operators, prior to commencement of services.
He also urged the Union Minister to institute a compliance monitoring mechanism jointly undertaken by State Transport Utilities and the Ministry, to ensure adherence to safety and service benchmarks.
“I remain confident that you shall view this matter and take corrective steps at the earliest in the larger interest of commuter welfare and the credibility of e-mobility initiatives,” Reddy added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
BJP to fight Assam polls on twin planks of development, secure state
Guwahati (PTI): In a bid to win the Assam Assembly elections for the third time in a row, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday advised the state BJP brass to fight on twin planks: development and a secure state.
Shah, who wound up a two-day visit to Assam, held a nearly two-hour-long meeting with senior leaders of the BJP state unit at the party headquarters here, with a focus on discussing strategy for the state elections, expected in March-April.
Briefing reporters after the closed-door meeting, BJP Assam president Dilip Saikia said, "Development and a secure Assam will be our twin electoral planks."
He also said that Shah, known for his expertise in electoral politics, has offered valuable suggestions, and based on it, an action plan to retain power in the state will be formulated soon.
“Discussions were held in detail on our organisational and political calendars. Shah ji offered some very valuable suggestions, and we will implement those at the earliest…We will share more details on the action plan soon,” Saikia said.
He further said that the Union minister exhorted the state party leadership to ensure that not only do they secure a ‘massive landslide victory’ but also bag more seats than in the previous election.
The BJP currently leads a coalition government in Assam with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), while the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) has also extended support.
In the 126-member Assembly, the BJP now has 64 legislators, while its allies AGP, UPPL and BPF have nine, seven and three memnbers, respectively. In the opposition camp, the Congress’ strength is 26, while AIUDF has 15 members and CPI(M) one. There is an Independent legislator also, belonging to Raijor Dal.
Saikia said that the party will continue to contest the state polls in coalition with its NDA allies, which was also favoured by Shah.
Dismissing reports of chinks in the ruling coalition, the Lok Sabha MP said, “As far as the NDA is concerned, we are united in Assam. There could be discussions about some issues on individual party forums.”
The saffron party has maintained that its alliance with the regional parties will continue, and formalities like seat-sharing arrangements are being worked out.
Shah, who was on his second visit to the state within a month, attended two other events in Dibrugarh and Dheamji earlier in the day. He left for West Bengal after the meeting at the Guwahati state party headquarters.
