Govt’s public transport push hit by poor bus condition

Jaipur: While the govt continues urging people to use public transport and reduce fuel consumption, the poor condition of Jaipur’s city buses is steadily weakening public confidence in the system. At a time when rising petrol and diesel prices have made public transport a necessity for many families, commuters say travelling in Jaipur City Transport Services Ltd (JCTSL) buses has become increasingly unreliable and uncomfortable.JCTSL currently operates around 190 low-floor buses in the city. Of these, nearly 90 have already become unfit for regular use, while the remaining fleet is also nearing the same condition. Complaints of buses breaking down midway through routes have become common across different parts of Jaipur. At times, buses reportedly run out of diesel, while in several cases, technical faults leave passengers stranded on busy roads.Passengers and employees alike claim that maintenance standards have deteriorated sharply. Even emergency medical boxes inside several buses are said to be in poor condition. Despite the ageing fleet, the buses continue carrying far more passengers than their intended capacity, particularly during office and school hours, leaving commuters packed into overcrowded vehicles every day.Adding to the frustration is the delay in the rollout of electric buses. Earlier this year in Feb, trial runs for e-buses were conducted in the city, and more than 300 electric buses were expected to join the city’s transport network. However, months after the trial, there is still no clarity on when the buses will actually arrive. Preparations at the Todi depot, including charging infrastructure for the new fleet, also remain incomplete.According to JCTSL employee union president Babulal Nyangli, transport employees have repeatedly staged protests and demonstrations demanding new buses for the city. He said that if the govt genuinely wants people to adopt public transport, Jaipur urgently needs a stronger and more dependable bus network to reduce pressure on both passengers and staff.With traffic congestion and pollution continuing to rise across Jaipur, strengthening public transport is seen as essential for the city’s future.