By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS
New Delhi : The state-run, loss-making Delhi Transport Corp (DTC) can make a dramatic turnaround and give the Indian capital an efficient bus service, replacing the 'killer' Blueline private buses, provided the government allows it to turn its depots into commercial complexes.
Senior officials say DTC has been pleading with the central government to allow commercial complexes in the 34 depots that are based in some prime areas of the capital, with buses using a sprawling basement and the remaining property getting rented out.
"If we do that, we will earn so much money that we can run DTC for free!" one officer told IANS. "It is surprising no action is being taken on this proposal though both the central and Delhi governments are with the Congress party."
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's announcement that the privately owned and notorious Blueline buses will be phased out by the 2010 Commonwealth Games has been hailed by all sections in DTC as a welcome step that should have been taken long ago.
But DTC officials who did not want to be quoted or identified by designation are sceptical about the government's move to turn the entire DTC a luxury fleet, saying this could prove worse than the present disease.
The low-floor buses the government wants to fill DTC with would each cost Rs.6-6.5 million, compared to the present buses that come for Rs.1.7 million, or a fourth of it. Some of these buses are already operational.
"We are not opposed to luxury buses. After all if someone can pay, why not?" asked a senior official. "But our prime necessity is to provide an efficient bus service that can be affordable. The bulk of our users are the poor and low-income people."
The DTC now has some 3,700 buses but only 80 percent of them ply on any given day because of a serious shortfall of drivers and poor maintenance. During the day, about 800 to 900 buses remain parked in depots. In the evenings, the number is much more. For the salary it gives, DTC finds it difficult to recruit good drivers.
There are other reasons too for DTC's monthly losses of Rs.280 million – while the wage bill is Rs.340 million.
DTC provides passes to school and college students at a ridiculous Rs.12.50 a month – an amount decided four decades ago.
It is also forced to ply on uneconomic rural routes in the city where private buses refuse to go. The 200-250 buses operating on inter-state routes hardly make profits because they cannot match the buses of nearby states. There is a huge surplus of conductors too.
Plus there is massive corruption and pilferage.
Private buses do meet the shortage in buses. But these are driven recklessly, often in conflict with DTC route timings and with minimal overhead costs to make huge profits at the cost of both passenger welfare and road safety.
Owners of most private buses are influential people who pay off the traffic police and also the State Transport Authority, the regulatory body. Besides, it is common to see crew of private buses bribe traffic policemen when they get booked for offences.
"DTC can be a very profitable venture," asserted Savitur Prasad, a former financial advisor and chief general manager of the company who is widely credited with carrying out sweeping reforms during his 2001-03 stint.
Prasad had sought to force a unified timetable for DTC and private buses to prevent needless competition. But the private bus owners manage to scuttle it. Prasad was forced to leave DTC.
On some routes, DTC drivers are today paid off by private buses – to drive slow or fast so that the bulk of the passengers end up boarding the private buses.
Said one DTC officer: "Delhi needs thousands of buses. The private buses are a shame. We need a cost efficient DTC. If authorities at various levels wake up, this can be done. I only hope the chief minister sticks to her pledge to do away with Blueline buses."