“We’re forced to drive fast!”: BMTC e-bus drivers reveal target pressure behind rising accidents

Drivers allege BVG, the private firm operating BMTC’s electric buses, imposes unrealistic 130 km-per-shift targets, forcing unsafe speeds and leading to repeated mishaps.

The recurring accidents involving BMTC’s electric buses have sparked fresh outrage as several drivers have come forward revealing the real cause, extreme “target pressure.” Contrary to assumptions about inadequate training, drivers allege that private contractor BVG India Ltd, which manages BMTC’s e-bus operations, is forcing them to meet unrealistic mileage goals that compromise safety.

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According to drivers, each must complete at least 130 kilometres per shift, often within an eight-hour window, even through Bengaluru’s notorious traffic snarls. “If we drive slowly, we miss the target. If we rush, accidents happen. Either way, we get blamed,” one driver said, exposing the mental strain behind the wheel.

Over the past three years, nearly 40 people have died in electric bus-related accidents in the city. Drivers claim that BVG officials constantly pressure them to maintain high speed, prioritising performance numbers over road safety. “They say complete the target, no matter how. That’s why accidents happen,” another driver added.

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Adding to the chaos, conductors are appointed by BMTC while drivers report to BVG, creating what they describe as a “toxic work environment.” The lack of coordination and mental fatigue, they say, have made driving an increasingly stressful job.