Over 350 Delhi Transport Corporation buses break down daily

NEW DELHI: Over four thousand breakdowns in a 15-day period. That’s the “work” schedule of buses run by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). Every day, around 350-390 breakdowns are reported by the DTC. A majority of these breakdowns are in the mint-new, low-floor buses.
As per figures available with the DTC’s central command centre, 4,900 breakdowns were reported in the past fortnight.From simple punctures to what the DTC describes as merely “technical” problems, the range of reasons is wide but worrying. Engine defects (227), clutch defects (317), tyre punctures (454), starting trouble (1,271) and buses not being able to pull their weight (271) abound. Other type of breakdowns, accounting for 2,469 buses, involved headlights, oil leakages, problems with driving shafts etc.
Officials say technical breakdowns are the most common in the low-floor buses, which comprise more than 70% of the daily bus fleet. “A number of breakdowns are reported in the old standard floor buses, but most of these run in the Outer Delhi or rural areas. The low-floor buses run within the city, and complaints about them have been pouring in,” said an official.
This is despite the fact that a third-party maintenance contract is maintained by DTC with both Tata and Ashok Leyland. Both these companies have an annual maintenance contract (AMC) that charges between Rs 60-70 lakh per bus. In fact, for AC buses, DTC pays Rs 4.50 per km for each AC bus from zero-75,000km. From 75,000-1 lakh km, the rate is Rs 5 per km.
As part of the AMC, DTC can also penalize the third party maintenance agency if 93% of operations of the bus, whether low-floor or standard, is not met. The penalty is Rs 2,000 for non-AC buses and Rs 2,300 per AC bus. The reality, say sources, is far different. “Despite the penalty clause, less than 50% of the actual penalties are levied,” said the source.
DTC spokesperson Sharat Kumar however, dismisses all such complaints. “There are 5,100 buses plying during
the day and 4,900 in the evening. Of these, if some buses break down, it’s not surprising, especially as around 1,800 buses in the fleet are old standard buses.”
He admits though that 350-390 buses breaking down is a high number. Kumar claims that the DTC has recently come down hard on the companies handling the AMC.