Only 66 of 368 buses on road,1 L commuters bear the brunt

Bhopal: As the Union government promotes public transport to support austerity measures, Bhopal’s City Link Limited (BCLL) service—plagued by three years of unresolved issues—prevents around one lakh potential daily users from participating effectively.

The fleet, once carrying 1.5 lakh commuters, now limps with just an estimated 40,000 passengers amid severe cutbacks. Data from Wednesday underscores the depth of the problem: only 66 out of 368 buses were operational on city roads. This reflects a service hamstrung by leadership instability, with four BCLL CEOs cycling through in that period alone.

Current CEO Anju Arun Kumar references an ongoing shift, pointing to a proposed merger of the city bus operations under the state transport department. However, she offered little concrete timeline, stating simply, “Give me some time.” In the interim, no meaningful resolution appears in sight.

BCLL is a under wholly owned subsidiary of Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC). Bhopal Mayor Malti Rai, who has repeatedly promised transformation, conditions improvements on new infrastructure. Her key pledge, a rollout of 100 electric buses by June. Yet even this limited addition—mere 100 vehicles—falls far short of restoring full capacity to a network serving a city of almost three million.

BCLL’s high-profile 2022 acquisition of 77 CNG buses has proven a bust. As of Wednesday, barely six were on the road, with the remainder parked unused at depots on Hoshangabad Road and Bairagarh. Sources reveal that CNG operator Imobility received more than ₹1 crore in payments from BCLL, tied to undertakings for service restoration. Officials remain tight-lipped on any enforcement actions against the operator.

The roughly 330-bus city fleet operates through four operators. Breakdown: 149 buses sidelined due to BCLL’s inability to secure a ticket collection agency—four tenders issued, zero takers. Another 90 buses, about 5% of the total, languish under maintenance. Operator 3 manages 52 buses, with only about two dozen currently roadworthy. The remaining 77 fall under the problematic CNG operator.

Commuters face daily hardships, unable to align with national guidelines amid this persistent gridlock.

Bhopal’s Transport Void: Metro, Cycles, E-Bikes Fall Short

Beyond BCLL’s bus failures, alternative public transport options in Bhopal offer little relief, undermining Union austerity goals.

The Metro rail, touted as a modern fix, serves just 150 passengers daily on its 7 km stretch from Subhash Nagar to AIIMS. More tourist novelty than commuter lifeline, stations swelter on hot summer days—fans idle when infrequent trains skip by.

Smart City-backed Public Bike Sharing (PBS) cycles and e-bikes are ghosts on most streets, spotted mainly near Upper Lake. The operator, whose contract lapsed last November, cites rampant thefts in “old Bhopal” zones like VIP Road. BCLL has towed many bikes as a result, keeping them off roads.

Dedicated tracks exist—Hoshangabad Road’s cycle path and one along Smart Road—but underuse persists amid safety concerns and sparse rentals.