Mysuru commuters oppose use of ageing BMTC buses for city services

Bus commuters in Mysuru have voiced strong opposition to the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation’s (KSRTC) decision to deploy ageing buses previously operated by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) for city services, alleging that several of them are in poor condition and contribute to air pollution.

Residents said, “Many of the buses plying city routes are visibly old, uncomfortable, and inadequately maintained.” “These buses are in very bad condition and not up to the mark. Some of them still carry the BMTC logo and have not even been repainted,” Amogh A., a Mysuru resident, told The Hindu.

He added that seats were tattered and that several buses emitted thick smoke. “Most of these are old BS-III buses, and the pollution is evident,” he alleged.

Another commuter, Sarthak K.M., alleged discrimination against small cities and towns. “It is unfair that used the BMTC buses are sent here. Mysuru is a developed city and needs a good number of new buses. While Bengaluru is getting new buses, including electric buses that are environment-friendly, Mysuru is being given old, polluting vehicles,” he said.

An RTI reply accessed by The Hindu revealed that about 267 BMTC buses are currently being operated on various city routes by the KSRTC across the State. According to the RTI filed by Yathish Kumar S., a Mysuru resident, KSRTC, which runs city bus services in several towns across Karnataka, received 267 buses from the BMTC and deployed them across multiple depots under its jurisdiction.

However, a senior official said that buses once operated by the BMTC were being reintroduced in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities after undergoing extensive refurbishment. The initiative, the official said, aims to bridge gaps in public transport while minimising costs through sustainable fleet management.

According to the corporation, each bus undergoes a comprehensive overhaul that includes engine refurbishment, new seat covers, replacement of window panels, and a complete revamp of the bus body.

“Before re-entering service, all refurbished buses are rigorously inspected and must receive fitness certificates from the Regional Transport Offices,” the official said.

The KSRTC officials said that around 1,520 buses had been refurbished so far at the corporation’s regional and divisional workshops across the State, adding that the refurbishment programme had won several awards for innovation and sustainability.

Responding specifically to concerns in Mysuru, Akram Pasha, Managing Director of KSRTC, told The Hindu that only 25 buses formerly operated by the BMTC were currently deployed for city services in Mysuru. “These buses have undergone complete overhauling before being pressed into service. There are no issues with their fitness or safety,” he said, while assuring that services were being monitored regularly.