Bengaluru: While informing that the lockdown has caused losses of Rs 16,000 cr to all the four Karata Trasnport undertakings, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Laxman Savadi, on Sunday wrote to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to issue new lockdown guidelines, including permission to operate public transport.
Savadi has urged Gadkari to permit deployment of non-AC buses on scheduled road so that adequate services are provided.
The four State Transport Undertakings (STUs) in Karnataka which are providing bus-based public transport services within the state and to the neighbouring states are Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).
“KSRTC, NWKRTC and NEKRTC operate buses for mofussil services i.e. Interdistrict, intradistrict and interstate, whereas BMTC operates only in urban and suburban areas in the city of Bengaluru. The four STUs put together hold a fleet of about 24,900 buses including 1,520 air-conditioned buses and operate about 71.00 lakh km. per day and carries about 98.00 lakh passengers every single day,” Savadi wrote in the letter adding that the lockdown has had a devastating impact on the operations of all the four STUs due to the combination of lack of revenue and continuing fixed costs such as salaries and pensions to staff, payables against existing loans etc.
Savadi pointed out that the operations and revenue post lockdown won’t reach the previous trend due to reduced economic activity.
Underlining that occupancy should be allowed to full seating capacity, Savadi said that following social distancing norm in the buses will create demand for more buses, which is not possible at present.
He also said that if restrictions are imposed on public transport, people who have to reach their destinations on time will start banking on smaller vehicles like autos, cabs, tempos etc, which will impact preventive measures.
Therefore, Savadi requested Union Minister to look into the above matter and issue fresh guidelines to all the states / UT’s.
