Reportedly karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa announced that the bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s (BMTC)'s fleet of buses will be increased with the addition of 6,000 buses in a phased manner. Meanwhile the move will lead to the number of buses in the city almost doubling. Currently BMTC operates around 6,500 buses in the city and is in the process of phasing out 1,000 old buses.
When speaking to reporters, Yeddyurappa said that the state government is planning to lease buses as it would reduce the financial impact on BMTC. Furthermore he added that the corporation was unable to invest thousands of crores for procuring buses and will instead operate them after leasing.
Moreover activists in the city who have been demanding that the state government should revive the bus network in bengaluru raised concerns about the decision to lease buses from private companies. Apparently Yeddyurappa also announced that 50% of the new buses to be added will be electric and they will operate on priority lanes and the state government has decided to start priority bus lanes in 12 areas of the city with high traffic.
