Mon Oct 27 12:27:09 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
Karnataka’s Transport Minister, Ramalinga Reddy, has publicly criticized the performance of private operators managing electric buses in Bengaluru under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model. He cited frequent breakdowns, strikes, passenger inconvenience, and a higher accident rate compared to BMTC’s diesel buses. He has written to the Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, requesting intervention and a performance review, highlighting issues such as poor driver training, inadequate vehicle maintenance, insufficient staffing, and a lack of accountability. Reddy proposes stricter contractual clauses mandating certified training and a joint monitoring mechanism to improve safety and service. The minister emphasized that these issues damage the credibility of Bengaluru’s public transport and India’s broader e-mobility efforts.
News Article:
Bengaluru’s Electric Bus Program Faces Scrutiny Over Poor Performance and Safety Concerns
Bengaluru, October 27, 2025 – Karnataka’s Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has raised serious concerns about the operational effectiveness and safety record of private companies managing electric buses in Bengaluru under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model. In a letter to Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy, Reddy detailed a litany of problems, including frequent breakdowns, driver strikes, a higher accident rate compared to the city’s diesel buses, and generally poor service standards.
Speaking at a press conference earlier today, Minister Reddy highlighted that companies like NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam, Tata Motors Limited (TML) Smart City Mobility Solutions, Switch Mobility, and OHM Global Mobility are falling far short of expectations. “The operational efficiency of these firms has stained the reputation of both the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation as well as the city as a progressive metropolis.” he stated.
According to data presented by Reddy, cancellation rates for GCC-operated e-buses are nearly three times higher than for BMTC’s conventional fleet. TML’s electric buses, for instance, reported a cancellation rate of 3.86%, while OHM recorded a staggering 10.81%. Breakdowns, particularly those attributed to battery failures, are also prevalent. TML alone reported 2,120 incidents between 2023 and 2025. He also emphasized that accidents involving electric buses are more frequent than those involving the BMTC’s diesel fleet.
The Transport Minister also pointed to frequent strikes by electric bus drivers due to salary delays and unmet demands for festival bonuses. These strikes have resulted in substantial revenue losses for the BMTC, reportedly totaling ₹92.90 lakh between 2024 and 2025. “Systemic negligence and absence of accountability have even resulted in fatalities. Twenty four fatal accidents were recorded in 2023 to 2025 (till September) under the purview of GCC operators,” Reddy said.
Reddy is urging the Union Minister to conduct an immediate and thorough performance review of all GCC operators participating in the FAME-II and CESL initiatives. He specifically requested attention to safety compliance and the quality of driver training.
Looking ahead, the Minister recommended incorporating strict clauses in future tenders, mandating certified driver training programs before deployment, and establishing a joint monitoring mechanism between the Ministry of Heavy Industries and State Transport Utilities. “Corrective steps must be taken in the larger interest of commuter welfare and the credibility of India’s e-mobility initiatives,” Reddy concluded. The fate of Bengaluru’s electric bus program and the future of public transportation in the tech hub city now hinges on the outcome of this federal intervention.
First Piper 