Bengaluru proudly boasts India’s largest public bus fleet, with 7,067 buses, outpacing major cities like Chennai, Mumbai, and Delhi. On a statewide level, Karnataka leads the nation with an impressive 26,054 buses, translating to 3.81 buses per 1,000 residents – a figure significantly higher than states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, as confirmed by Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy.
These impressive statistics come as Minister Reddy firmly pushes back against growing calls for the privatization of the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). Prominent figures, including Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, former Infosys CFO T.V. Mohandas Pai, and Yulu co-founder R.K. Misra, have advocated for privatizing the city’s bus services.
Minister Reddy strongly denounced these privatization proposals, labeling them as ‘commercially motivated’ and detrimental to the public good. He asserted, “Karnataka and Bengaluru stand at the forefront nationally in terms of bus numbers, passenger volume, and service excellence. Those pushing for privatization are driven by self-interest, not the well-being of our commuters.”
A Closer Look: 3.81 Buses Per 1,000 Residents
Delving into the specifics, Minister Reddy highlighted that Bengaluru’s BMTC manages a robust fleet of 7,067 buses, including 1,799 eco-friendly electric vehicles. This extensive network serves approximately 4.8 million passengers daily, marking it as India’s busiest city-operated public transport system. For comparison, Chennai’s MTC runs 3,651 buses (230 electric) for around 3.4 million daily commuters, while Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) handles 3,794 buses (1,121 electric, 2,340 leased) serving about 2.5 million. Delhi’s DTC operates 3,222 buses (2,526 electric) for 2.4 million passengers. Kolkata, by contrast, has a significantly smaller fleet of just 750 buses, serving about 0.6 million daily riders.
“These figures undeniably demonstrate BMTC’s exceptional effectiveness in serving Bengaluru’s residents. It’s clear that certain individuals now seek to privatize this vital system purely for private gain. However, the government’s unwavering priority remains public service, not profitability,” Minister Reddy emphasized.
Furthermore, the Minister underscored Karnataka’s overall leadership in nationwide public transport. “Against a national average of 1.2 buses per 1,000 citizens, Karnataka proudly offers 3.81 buses per 1,000. This stark difference unequivocally showcases our profound commitment to ensuring public mobility,” he declared.
Across the state, Karnataka’s massive fleet of 26,054 buses is managed by four key corporations: the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), BMTC, the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and the Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).
Drawing comparisons with other states, Mr. Reddy noted that Tamil Nadu operates 20,912 buses (2.70 per 1,000 people), Maharashtra 16,900 (1.32), Uttar Pradesh 13,031 (0.54), and Andhra Pradesh 11,111 (2.07). He confidently concluded, “Karnataka consistently ranks first across all critical metrics, including total buses, passenger ridership, and overall service reliability.”
Minister Reddy’s Solution for Congestion: Tunnel Roads and Flyovers
Shifting focus, Mr. Reddy addressed the contentious Tunnel Road project, affirming the government’s commitment to proceed despite reservations from a government-appointed expert committee. “Bengaluru critically needs this tunnel road. While experts have flagged certain issues in the Detailed Project Report, the government will diligently correct these flaws and move forward in line with their recommendations,” he stated.
Reflecting on Bengaluru’s past, the Minister recalled how extensive road widening initiatives during former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna’s tenure effectively mitigated traffic congestion. “Those projects were instrumental in easing traffic flow. Regrettably, subsequent administrations failed to maintain this momentum. Today, with scarce funds and exorbitant land acquisition costs, further road widening is impractical,” Mr. Reddy lamented, concluding, “Under current circumstances, tunnel roads and flyovers represent the only viable solutions.”
He cited Andhra Pradesh as a prime example, where former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu initiated major road expansion years ago, with successive governments ensuring their continuity, leading to effective traffic management. “The unfortunate lack of consistent follow-through on such projects by subsequent governments in Karnataka has, sadly, exacerbated our congestion issues,” he concluded.