Bad roads, traffic blocks run riot; losses in crores

Bad roads, traffic blocks run riot; losses in crores
Potholes in BMTC’s pocket
Deccan Herald

For BMTC, its dream ride on ‘4,400 buses and 100 Volvos’ is turning a little bumpy, thanks to Bangalore’s crumbling roads. The transport corporation, that is passionately pitching for a comprehensive Bus Rapid Transit System, in lines of Singapore and Curitiba, is now fighting against losses caused due to bad roads and road blocks.

The revenue losses due to bad roads and traffic diversions were contained at Rs 42.75 lakh in 2003.

The losses touched a high of over Rs five crore in 2005. The losses till May this year is estimated at Rs 72 lakh.

For one, the percentage of cancellations of kilometres run is steadily shooting up. The cancellations due to road blocks and bad roads have risen from 2.5 lakh kilometres in 2003 to nearly 27 lakh kilometres in 2005.

About 3.36 lakh kilometres were cancelled till May this year.

Secondly, the buses themselves are getting bruised, thanks to the pothole-ridden streets.

“There are repeated breakdowns of our buses. The spring blades get cut or tyres get punctured or damaged. It has become increasingly difficult for buses to navigate on these bad roads,” revealed a senior traffic manager of BMTC.

Worst blow

Perhaps the worst blow to the BMTC is its floundering brand image. According to Managing Director of BMTC Upendra Tripathi, the bus schedules are going haywire due to traffic congestion on the roads, that is slowing down the movement of buses.

Traffic diversions due to pending infrastructure projects has worsened the situation. As a result, the BMTC is forced to reduce the number of scheduled trips of buses, Mr Tripathi reveals.

“Our vision is to make a comprehensive bus network, by introducing public-friendly, sophisticated buses with easy connectivity and frequent service.

But how can we deliver, if the roads on which our buses run are getting from bad to worse?” questions Mr Tripathi.

The bumpy ride

Particulars 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07*

Total cancelled kms (in lakhs) 23.67 63.53 98.47 21.91

Cancellation of kms due to 2.52 12.40 26.95 3.36

road blocks/bad roads (in lakhs)

Cancellations due to 0.12 0.51 0.96 0.67

road blocks/bad roads (%)

Revenue loss due to 42.75 211.09 531.05 72

road block/bad roads(Rs. Lakh)

*Up to May