BELAGAVI: The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has sent some of its old buses, which have run about 5-6 lakh km, to Hubballi and Belagavi. But, this move has drawn the ire of the locals, given the rickety condition of the buses.
The BMTC sent 50 buses each to NWKRTC in Hubballi and Belagavi. The condition of the buses is so pathetic that the tyres are about burst, the footboard has almost broken, seats are in bad shape and some parts of the buses even rusted. There are about 300 buses in the Belagavi depot which have run for 10 lakhs km and locals demanded that the government should not mete out such step-motherly treatment to north Karnataka.
Recently, the footboard of a bus broke while travelling from Belagavi to Ramatheertha Nagar and the photos went viral on social media. Citizen also noted that school and college students travel by bus and questioned who would be responsible if If anything have happened to them. They also demanded action against the BMTC officials who sent old buses.
BJP MLA Abhay Patil said, “Necessary action needs to be taken against BMTC for sending such old buses which are only fit to be scrapped. North Karnataka is not a scrap godown. They painted old buses and insulted us by sending those vehicles. Our Belagavi depot officials also should not accept such scrap buses. This is not right. The BMTC purchased new bused by investing crores of rupees. The government can give electric buses to Belagavi depot too in upcoming days. I will make a request to the CM to send to new buses”, he added.