BMTC inspects 7-metre buses as it plans 200 midi buses despite past revenue concerns

The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has begun inspecting and evaluating different bus models as it explores the induction of 200 seven-metre midi/mini-buses to improve connectivity on narrow roads and in interior parts of the city.

The move comes at a time when the corporation has historically faced both safety concerns involving midi buses and financial challenges associated with operating smaller buses. BMTC is now examining suitable models as the demand for smaller vehicles grows, particularly for first- and last-mile connectivity to Namma Metro stations.

The latest exercise also follows Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh’s recent direction to deploy 200 mini-air-conditioned electric buses within a 5-km radius of Metro stations. The buses are intended to connect residential layouts and neighbourhoods that are difficult to serve with larger buses. The 200 mini-AC buses are part of the 4,500 electric buses being provided to BMTC under the Centre’s PM E-DRIVE scheme.

According to sources, BMTC is now looking at suitable smaller bus models for these operations, with the focus on vehicles that can negotiate narrow roads while providing feeder connectivity.

Previous fire incidents raised safety concerns

BMTC’s experience with midi buses has not been without problems. In January and February 2022, two BMTC buses caught fire within a span of about 10 days, prompting the corporation to seek a safety assessment of its midi-bus fleet.

BMTC had procured 186 midi buses in 2014. The buses were around nine metres long and had about 33 seats, making them smaller than the standard 12-metre buses and suitable for narrower and more congested roads.

An initial investigation into the fires found that the incidents originated in the engine area. A later assessment reported that loose parts in the starter had resulted in a short circuit. BMTC subsequently subjected the buses to detailed inspections before allowing them to return to service.

The safety concerns were among the factors that made BMTC cautious about expanding its smaller-bus fleet.

Revenue economics another hurdle

However, technical and safety issues are not the only challenge. According to officials, the economics of operating mini and midi buses have also made BMTC cautious about expanding their use.

“BMTC assesses bus operations by comparing the cost per kilometre (CPKM) with the earnings per kilometre (EPKM). Smaller buses have lower passenger-carrying capacity but require largely the same basic crew arrangement as bigger buses. A standard 12-metre BMTC bus can carry substantially more passengers than a mini or midi bus, while the driver and conductor costs remain broadly similar. As a result, smaller buses can struggle to generate enough revenue to cover their operating costs, particularly on routes with weak ridership,” an official said.

The issue becomes more significant under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model used for several of BMTC’s electric buses. Under this arrangement, a private operator owns and maintains the vehicle while BMTC pays an agreed rate for operating the bus on a per-kilometre basis.

This means BMTC has to pay the contracted amount irrespective of whether a bus is carrying a full load or only a handful of passengers. For feeder services, where passenger demand can vary considerably between peak and non-peak hours, this can increase the corporation’s financial burden.

“Despite these concerns, the expansion of Namma Metro has increased the need for reliable feeder services. With Metro stations extending to more parts of Bengaluru, we expect to play a larger role in connecting neighbourhoods to the Metro network,” an official added.