Bengaluru’s Killer Buses: 50 Died in 258 BMTC Accidents This Year

The number of deaths due to accidents involving BMTC buses has nearly doubled as compared to 2017.

In 2018, about 50 people died in 258 BMTC bus accidents, according to figures provided by the corporation.

(Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is broke. So much so that the lack of funds has resulted in poor maintenance of buses and the training of drivers. This, of course, has had drastic implications. In 2018, 258 BMTC buses met with accidents and 50 people died, according to figures provided by the corporation.

According to the data, out of 258, 46 were life-threatening accidents, 28 of them caused large-scale damage and 184 of them were classified as minor accidents.

“This is in reference to the damage caused to human life and also the irreparable damage caused to the bus when referring to large-scale damage,” a senior BMTC official said.

In the last one year, 133 buses were severely damaged, rendering 219 people injured.

The number of deaths due to accidents involving BMTC buses has nearly doubled when compared to 2017. Last year, 29 people had died in 132 BMTC bus accidents.

The deaths of two teenage boys on 20 December has brought to the fore the dysfunctional system the BMTC operates on, thereby putting passengers and even other commuters on the road at risk.

The boys were hit by a BMTC bus on the Mysuru Road. Chandrakanta (16) and Yadu Kumar SY (15), students of BBMP Kasturba PU College, KB Nagar on Mysuru Road, were waiting near the KSRTC Satellite bus-stand to cross the road. The bus’ brake had failed, leading to the accident.

According to the BMTC log book, the bus driver had notified BMTC of the problem with the brakes. The driver was, however, asked to drive slowly. BMTC never replaced the brakes, which resulted in the deaths of the two teenage boys.

As per BMTC statistics from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2017, 1,828 accidents involving BMTC buses occurred in the city – of which, 352 were fatal, 68 major and 1,408 minor.

A total of 370 people were killed and 1,715 injured in the accidents. A compensation of about Rs 52.68 crore has been given by the corporation under the Motor Vehicles Act.

At least 90 persons were killed in 2012-13 followed by 88 in 2013-14, 78 in 2014-15, 69 in 2015-16 and 45 people in 2016-17.

While the number of fatalities has consistently dropped, this year has seen a spike, the Bangalore Mirror reported.

Cash-Strapped and No Money for Maintenance

The BMTC is currently operating on a Rs 100 crore budget for the 2018-19 fiscal. Sources in the BMTC say that the funds are not enough to pay off outstanding gratuity of retired employees.

Sources in the BMTC say that 40 percent of the buses have travelled 4 to 6 lakh kilometres and are in dire need of repairs and spare parts.

The lack of budgetary allocation has resulted in the agency being unable to buy spare parts for the maintenance of the buses.

“If all the buses have to be in top-notch condition, then the BMTC needs Rs 3,000 crore to fix the mess it is in. The maintenance of buses does not happen properly. Brakes and steering wheels are in such horrible conditions that it becomes dangerous to drive the buses. The driver who was in the BMTC bus on 20 December had 8 years of experience. But the failure was on BMTC’s behalf,” says Nagaraj, a member of the BMTC drivers’ union.

Inadequate Training of Drivers

According to BMTC officials, the agency has very few certified trainers to monitor the trainee drivers and coach them.

“Ideally, the trainers must have certification from the institutes in Tamil Nadu or Ballari. Only those with experience as drivers and the adequate certificates can be appointed as trainers. But in BMTC, so many of the trainers do not have the required certification. Drivers with two years of experience are becoming trainers.”

Senior BMTC official

However, NV Prasad, Managing Director of BMTC, said that the agency has appointed experienced drivers as trainers. He admitted that the agency was finding it difficult to hire certified trainers.

“It is very difficult to find certified trainers. So we look at experienced BMTC drivers and appoint them to train the newly-inducted drivers. We are conducting weekly maintenance work, and drivers who are habitual offenders are being trained too,” he added.

(This story has been published in an arrangement with The News Minute.)