CH NEWS, BENGALURU
Public transportation across the Garden City faces a massive operational threat as the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) struggles under a crushing financial burden. Transport union leaders have raised serious alarms, revealing that the corporation has failed to clear approximately ₹600 crore in outstanding diesel payments to major oil companies over the past four to five months.
Serving over 40 lakh daily commuters who depend heavily on city buses to reach workplaces, schools, and markets, BMTC operates a massive fleet of 5,169 diesel-powered buses. This heavy transit network consumes roughly 2.5 lakh liters of fuel every single day, requiring steady daily payouts of ₹2 to ₹3 crore to fuel suppliers. However, mounting cash flow shortages have brought payments to a grinding halt. Consequently, fuel providers have issued strict ultimatums, warning that diesel deliveries could stop entirely within weeks if the massive arrears remain unpaid.
Union representatives attribute this severe liquidity crunch directly to delayed government disbursements under the free-travel Shakti scheme. Across the state’s four major transport corporations, pending government reimbursements have crossed alarming thresholds, with BMTC alone awaiting roughly ₹1,000 crore in unpaid subsidies. Labor leaders warn that unless state authorities step in immediately to release these crucial funds, buses will inevitably remain grounded in depots across the city.
Beyond fuel liabilities, the internal maintenance framework is collapsing. Depots across every zone report acute shortages of essential spare parts, leaving mechanics struggling to keep aging buses roadworthy. Although frontline transit workers often hesitate to voice grievances publicly, union leaders have intensified pressure on authorities, urging immediate administrative intervention to protect public transit infrastructure, safeguard jobs, and prevent catastrophic travel disruptions for millions of daily passengers relying on the municipal network.