Motorists urge BMTC to address bus breakdowns

Breakdowns worsen traffic congestion, inconvenience commuters

There were 1,478 recorded instances of bus breakdowns last year

Motorists and passengers using the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) have observed a rising frequency of bus breakdowns.

They are urging the corporation to address this issue promptly to prevent these breakdowns from worsening traffic congestion and inconveniencing commuters.

According to data from the traffic police, there were 1,478 recorded instances of bus breakdowns last year. On average, there were between 120 to 170 breakdowns each month, with approximately four to five buses breaking down daily.

Aside from causing inconvenience to passengers, these breakdowns significantly contribute to traffic congestion, as a disabled bus blocks an entire carriageway. This results in a 30% increase in congestion on three-lane roads and a 50% increase on two-lane roads. Compounding the issue, most BMTC buses have pneumatic brakes, making it impossible to manually move the vehicle when the brakes are jammed. Consequently, the bus remains stranded until BMTC technicians arrive.

In total, 4,658 vehicles experienced breakdowns last year, including 395 Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses, 327 private buses, and 713 Light Motor Vehicles (LMV) and cars.