Despite transport minister’s surprise checks, commuters say BMTC bus service problems persist

Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh conducted surprise inspections of BMTC buses in July 2026. | Photo credit: File photo

Despite a surprise inspection of Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses by Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh in July 2026, commuters say several issues affecting the service continue, including buses skipping designated stops, rude behavior by drivers and conductors and difficulties passengers face while boarding buses.

However, commuters acknowledge that the introduction of digital payment options, including QR code-based payments and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) payments, have helped reduce problems related to the changes.

Pavan Kumar, a regular BMTC commuter in Peenya, said that buses often do not stop at the designated bus stops. “Even when passengers are waiting, buses sometimes pass without stopping and we are stuck. This is particularly frustrating for daily commuters who depend on public transport to get to work on time. The authorities need to ensure that buses stop where they are supposed to.”

Kishore BH, a resident of Bilekahalli, who regularly travels on the KIA-14 airport bus route, said most buses do not stop even when passengers signal to board them. “Even after signaling the driver, most of the airport buses do not stop at the designated spot. Instead, they stop in the middle of the road and force passengers to board in the middle of the moving traffic. This endangers the lives of commuters. When we ask the drivers and conductors, they react rudely. Despite repeated complaints to BMTC, we have not seen any improvement. The behavior of some employees has worsened in recent years.”

In July 2026, the Transport Minister conducted a secret inspection of BMTC services and traveled incognito with a mask on more than 10 bus routes across Bengaluru, including areas like Hebbal, Manyata Tech Park and Hennur. During the inspections, Mr. Suresh ordered officials to initiate disciplinary action, including suspension, if warranted, against crew members who refuse passengers, skip designated stops or behave rudely.

Mohan Prasad, a commuter from Shanthinagar, said such checks should be done regularly to ensure accountability of BMTC employees.

“The Minister must carry out surprise checks regularly, rather than limiting them to one-off exercises. If drivers and conductors know that the Minister or senior officials can travel on their buses at any time, they are more likely to follow the rules. Checks carried out for the sake of media interest will have little meaning if they are not followed by continuous monitoring, strict action against erring staff and a visible improvement in the daily bus service,” he added.

Meanwhile, a senior BMTC official said that the corporation carries around 45 million passengers daily and operates on a vast network, so rigorous monitoring of services is necessary. “BMTC carries around 45,00,000 passengers every day and covers around 16,000 kilometers in its extensive operations. Such incidents are unfortunate and bring bad name to the corporation. We regularly counsel the crew members and ensure that commuter complaints are addressed properly and timely,” the official said.

The official added that BMTC is training crew members to improve passenger service and behaviour.

Published – 10 Oct 2026 20:08 IST