Getting Around India's Cities
City Buses: The Backbone
Why city buses carry more people than metros in most Indian cities, why many cities have too few buses, and the finances of state transport undertakings.
Buses are the backbone of urban transport in India.
Scale
In most cities, buses carry far more daily riders than metros.
Shortage
Many cities have far fewer buses than benchmarks suggest; some cities have almost no public buses at all.
Finances
- State and city transport undertakings often run losses.
- Fares are kept low for affordability.
- Fuel and staff costs rise.
BEST and BMTC
Mumbai’s BEST and Bengaluru’s BMTC are large city bus operators that depend on subsidies.
Why losses can be justified
Buses reduce congestion and pollution, benefits that fares don’t capture.
Reforms
- Gross cost contracts with private operators.
- Bus priority lanes.
In a mid-sized city with few buses, commuters wait half an hour and switch to autos or two-wheelers.
Buses usually carry more.
- Buses carry most public transport riders.
- Many cities have too few buses.
- Bus undertakings often run losses.
- Buses deliver social benefits beyond fares.
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