COMMENTS

‘Make the best of private buses’

Pranav Jha

In peak hours you can see three kinds of private vehicles on the roads: The big private buses that are not supposed to stop at local bus stands ,  the mini cabs  that seem to appear in the mornings and evenings, -  looking very old and  not even worthy of RTO permits - and  the BPO vans and taxis that appear to pick up passengers on their empty return trips.

What is very noticeable is that the larger private buses seem to be more 'acceptable' to traffic police constables. These buses oft­en park and wait for passengers while their drivers enjoy a conversation with the traffic police.

It is the inadequate capacity of intracity road transportation that gives these private vehicles enough business  to indulge in doing the illegal and partly take over BMTC's job. One way to deal with them would be to not allow them to ply at all.

But the better way perhaps would be to just allow more such 'enterprising' operators to continue providing services in a structured way to lessen the burden on the BMTC. These private operators could run on profitable trunk routes under the supervision of the BMTC while it concentrates on providing wider coverage to all other areas of the city.

more here

• thumb_up 66 Likes
• · login or register to post comments

Sri,

Nowhere in the article it suggests that SB is advocating privatization of BMTC. What I could gather from his arguments is instead of giving room for illegal playing of private buses, why not allow them service the routes they think are profitable. That is different from saying time for privatization of BMTC.

Right SB?

• thumb_up 52 Likes
• · login or register to post comments

While most of them were a little apprehensive when this reporter struck up a conversation, they soon flood in with the perils of being a public bus driver and how there’s no one to listen  to their story.

Most drivers jest that the issues they face could fill up a book. Ravi says of his daily grind, “The traffic is maddening. We have to cover a certain number of kilometres per day - for me, its 189 km. It’s impossible to do so in Bangalore’s traffic conditions,” adding that those who fail to cover the distance are not paid overtime duty charges. “We’re even issued memos, stating that we’ve failed to reach the stipulated distance per day,” he states.

Ramu, who also ferries passengers from Shivajinagar to Begur, says, “The conductor and I were assigned this route three months ago. Since we cover the second shift - 2 pm to 10 pm - we are forced to sleep in the bus.” He adds that those like them, who are under training, are not entitled to leaves.

He also hints at bullying. “If one day you’re late, you might be fined or transferred.”

Continuing on the condition of buses and traffic, Ramu says, “Many parts of the buses are in terrible shape. So on crowded city roads, in bumper to bumper traffic, when autorickshaws and two-wheelers try to overtake all of a sudden, we don’t know if we can brake on time or if the brakes will fail. We drive with our hearts in our mouths.”

In accidents, bus drivers are the first accused. “Public sympathy lies with the autos and two-wheelers, regardless of whose fault it is. We are the ones who get beaten up,” adds Selvaraj.

They could complain to the higher-ups but the fear of transfers to ‘far off places’ silences all.

For the full report in the New Indian Express, click here.

Very clearly, the operational staff, except perhaps the few who are part of the mafioso, are getting a raw deal too, apart from the commuters. As such, it is indeed shocking that the public is yet to appreciate the perils of the continuation of a government monopoly, particularly in as critical an infrastructure sector as public bus transport services. When will wisdom dawn?

 

• thumb_up 34 Likes
• · login or register to post comments

Minibuses flagged off in Chennai; routes announced
Julie Mariappan, TNN | Oct 23, 2013, 12.39 PM IST28

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday introduced 50 minibuses on 20 routes in Chennai that lack adequate public transport facility.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Minibuses-flagged-off-in-Chennai-routes-announced/articleshow/24588412.cms

To end monopoly govt can permit private minibuses. Already many minibuses are plying in the city illegally. Giving big buses to private bus drivers is a safety issue like delhi bluelines. Anyway metro will soon unseat bmtc from bangalore transport top spot once phase 1 is complete, even bangalore commuter railway will help ending monopoly of bmtc.

• thumb_up 57 Likes
• · login or register to post comments

The gang rape and death of a young woman in the national capital has brought back into focus the urgent need for ensuring greater safety of women in public places. Better policing must be a lynchpin of this, but what will also help is an efficient and reliable public transport system along with other measures to improve civic infrastructure such as properly lighted public spaces. Unfortunately, public transport facilities in most Indian cities are not only grossly inadequate but also uncomfortable, unreliable and unsafe.

- - Unfortunately, almost all political parties, given their fetishised focus on the rural voter, have made only half-hearted attempts to build urban public transport systems. And suggestions to improve women`s safety have centred on curbing nightlife rather than enhancing it. Implicit in them is a desire to impose rural lifestyles on urban residents. So most commuters are left at the mercy of petty operators, who use political patronage and criminal elements to run sparsely available night transport. This exposes commuters to major risks, as was evident in Nirbhaya`s case.

Though the JNNURM funded by the central government has boosted public transport in cities, it is still too meagre to have a substantial impact. The progress of half-hearted efforts to set up bus rapid transit (BRT) systems and to incentivise investments by large corporate groups has been tardy. Authorities should take radical steps to operationalise large public transport networks that can cater to growing cities, including a night service. This will not only boost the national economy, but also enhance safety on the streets.

For the full text of the editorial in the ToI, click here.

The problem is beginning to be understood, but unfortunately a bit too slowly. At least, that's an improvement over the types who refuse to understand, and are happy perpetuating the status quo, irrespective of the seriuos consequences highlighted by the Delhi incident.

• thumb_up 58 Likes
• · login or register to post comments