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Profit for KSRTC at whose cost?

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Written By murali772 - 19 November, 2008

Bangalore Infrastructure Privatization Analysis Economy socialism monopoly public transport

The primary objective of public transport corporations is to serve the public. However, this does not seem to hold good on many occasions, like on Monday, when BMTC and KSRTC gave a large number of buses in their fleet on casual contract for the JD(S) convention, causing an acute shortage of buses on road and putting the public to hardships.
 

According to KSRTC public relations department, it gave over 2,000 buses (35 per cent) while BMTC gave 1,750 buses ( 30 per cent) for the convention. A top official admitted that the situation calls for a policy decision regarding casual contract at the central level. The STUs must restrict the number of buses that can be given on contract on a single day.

BMTC’s mission

Preamble of the Act framed by the Govt for the formation of BMTC: BMTC’s Mission: To provide efficient, economic, safe, reliable and punctual services to the commuters of city and suburban areas of Bangalore.BMTC provides the most affordable and dependable transport service to the people in and around Bangalore. It is an undertaking of the Govt. of Karnataka, dedicated to the commoner’s transport facility.

Its motive is therefore service rather than profit.

For the full text, click on:
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Profit+for+KSRTC+at+whose+cost?&artid=8e4ZkG|ZeZg=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==&SEO=

The mission as stated is something; but, when it comes to practice, it's another. Exactly, the problem with Socialism!

And, this is nothing new in BMTC. Check: http://praja.in/bangalore/blog/murali772/2008/09/08/bmtcs-business-oriented-outlook

Restrictions on the number of buses given out on casual contract, etc will just be sidelined by the politicos. The simple answer is effective competition - check: http://praja.in/blog/murali772/2007/12/12/better-bussing-green-bangalore

Muralidhar Rao

COMMENTS

Time for PIL against this practice !

kbsyed61 - 19 November, 2008 - 18:01

Murali Sir,

Few days back I had raised the same question w.r.t contract service for Private companies in the morning and evenings. The point was why should BMTC/KSRTC be catering to the service at the expense of ordinary daily commuters. In order to cater to such services they are depriving the ordinary public the services they entitled for. I am 100% sure that these contract would not fetch any profits. They are tools to appease political bosses.

I think this is a fit case for filing a PIL

1. To stop this practice from BMTC/KSRTC

2. Ensure that BMTC/KSRTC buses run on normal schedule 365 days a year and 24/7.

3. If BMTC and KSRTC are interested in catering to contract business they need to compete with other players without disturbing the normal schedule.

4. There should be more buses on normal schedule for such special occasions.

 

Your thoughts on this would be most welcome.

File PIL against JD(S)

mcadambi - 19 November, 2008 - 18:58

A group of concerned citizens did it successfully in Mumbai:

http://www.deccanherald.com/DeccanHerald.com/Content/Nov192008/city20081119101565.asp

"MUMBAI HC, Govt act tough In the aftermath of a number of terror bombings in Mumbai in 2003, the BJP-Shiv Sena called for a general strike in Mumbai on July 30, bringing the city to a halt. The parties claimed it a cent per cent success by spontaneous participation of the people. However, leading Mumbai citizens Gerson DaCunha, Alyque Padamsee, former union cabinet secretary B G Deshmukh and two others filed a public interest litigation, asking for a penalty.

They estimated that the day-long bandh had cost the city a loss of Rs 50 crore. On July 23, 2004, the Bombay High Court fined the two parties Rs 20 lakh each for organising the bandh. The division bench of the HC comprising Justice A P Shah and Justice S U Kamdar, ordered that the two parties deposit Rs 20 lakhs each with the State Government.

This amount, however, should not go into the general revenue fund but be earmarked for a specific public utility that would benefit the citizens of Mumbai. Since then, there had been no bundhs in Mumbai like in past."

We can write to Mr Gerson Da Cunha

mcadambi - 19 November, 2008 - 19:00

Perhaps we can procure a copy of that judgement from Mr Gerson Da Cunha. It could be used towards the PIL.

I think we can even file PIL

pradeep - 19 November, 2008 - 22:18

I think we can even file PIL against Devegowda who held rally in the city 2 days back which brough misery to people.

Ok, now lets get back

ananth.bangalore - 4 December, 2008 - 07:48

So the digressed thread has been moved and we were talking about the JD(S) rally. did we forget it, since Mumbai blasts were occupying our minds more? Anybody has any idea of what is happening to those PILs? Or are we thinking if Mumbai repeats in Bangalore, these guys and their other party counterparts will go on a rally over the dead bodies?

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