Bengaluru: Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has urged the Central Government to enforce stricter maintenance and performance norms for electric buses supplied to the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, following a rising number of breakdowns that have disrupted city services.
Addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha on Monday, Reddy said, “BMTC currently operates 1,644 electric buses, but repeated breakdowns have caused serious inconvenience to passengers. Drivers working under private contractors have even staged protests against the bus suppliers. To address this, the State has written to the Centre seeking strong directions to private suppliers on maintenance accountability.”
Under the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) scheme, electric buses are procured for urban transport systems under the GCC model — where maintenance, operation, and driver appointment are the full responsibility of the private supplier companies.
In a detailed letter to Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy, the State Government has provided breakdown statistics and operational complaints, noting that BMTC’s reputation is being damaged by poor vehicle performance. The letter urges the Centre to review the performance of all GCC suppliers before approving further contracts and to examine the frequency of brake failures and battery malfunctions.
The letter further recommends that private operators be mandated to conduct standardized driver training programs, ensuring compliance with safety and service quality standards. Reddy added that the State will propose a joint monitoring framework between BMTC and private suppliers to uphold maintenance accountability.
Highlighting the extent of the problem, Reddy revealed that the four main private suppliers — NTPC (90 buses), Switch Mobility (300 buses), TML Smart City Mobility Solutions (1,031 buses), and OHM Global Mobility Pvt. Ltd. (251 buses) — together recorded 2,049 brake failures to date. Additionally, 14,082 technical incidents linked to battery issues have been reported, resulting in ₹25.51 crore in penalties imposed on contractors.
“These repeated mechanical and electrical failures have seriously impacted BMTC’s operations and passenger safety,” Reddy said, adding that he plans to personally meet Minister Kumaraswamy soon to press for urgent intervention.
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