BMTC plans to add around 900 more E-buses, employees worried about future

BENGALURU: The Bengaluru Metro Transport Corporation (BMTC), which is the lifeline of the city, has embarked on a transformational drive by inducting electric buses in order to reduce its carbon footprint and dependence on fossil fuel. Currently, the transport utility is operation 300 electric buses in the ciyt and is planning to purchase 921 more electric buses by the end of this year.

But the initiative is apparently causing unease among BMTC employees. They say that they are not opposing EV buses. At the same time, they question what will happen to the old buses which are already in service.

Anand, an employee of BMTC, expressing apprehension, told Public TV, “The Union and state governments are planning to privatise BMTC. It that happens, employees may come to the street. We are not against eco-friendly buses, but they should recruit BMTC employees to operate EV buses. Otherwise, our lives will be at stake. The government should think about this seriously”, he said.

Prakash, CITU leader said, “The Union and state governments are trying to privatise the transport sector. Most of the employees depend on this job for their livelihood.What will they do if they get terminated by the corporation or lose their jobs? Who will be accountable for this? What about old diesel buses? Commuters may not face any difficulty, but it is a question of BMTC employee’s lives.”

The BMTC is bringing many changes in the Corporation to provide better and friendly service to passengers . But, employees are worried about their jobs with the government’s big push on operating electric buses.