Ramalinga Reddy, the Transport Minister of Karnataka, has issued a formal letter to the Ministry of Heavy Industries, pointing to serious concerns over safety and operational efficiency of electric buses deployed under the gross-cost contract (GCC) model.
The crux of the minister’s concern lies in the performance data of electric buses versus conventional diesel ones. According to the State Transport Department’s figures, while diesel buses record an accident rate of around 0.05 per lakh km, electric buses are reporting about 0.07 per lakh km a significant margin when scaled across a large fleet. Such a differential has triggered alarms over whether the rapid push for electrification is being matched with adequate front-line safeguards.
Further to the accident statistics, Reddy has flagged core operational issues: private operators managing e-bus fleets are reportedly under-staffed (averaging just 1.9 to 2.0 personnel per bus against the contract-stipulated 2.3), maintenance regimes are weak, driver training is patchy, and breakdowns are becoming routine. These gaps undermine both passenger safety and service reliability key pillars of public transport trust.
The minister’s letter seeks a multipronged corrective response: a full performance audit of existing operators, tighter contract provisions for upcoming tenders, and the setting up of a joint-compliance committee including state and central agencies for continuous oversight. By linking policy shortcomings to real outcomes, the state is signalling that electrification must proceed with accountability, not just ambition.
This development comes at a juncture when India is scaling up e-bus deployment under programmes such as FAME II and initiatives by Convergence Energy Services Ltd. (CESL), especially in urban corridors. The GCC model favoured for its speed and cost structure allows private firms to operate and maintain buses while the government pays per kilometre travelled. But critics now argue that without rigorous monitoring, the model’s efficiency gains may be accompanied by safety risks.
In conclusion, Karnataka’s move underscores a broader truth for India’s e-mobility narrative: electrifying public transport is only part of the journey. Delivering on safety, maintenance, driver competence and service reliability is equally critical. As states race to roll out fleets, the need for robust regulation, transparent operations and field-ready infrastructure becomes clearer. The challenges flagged by Reddy may serve as a cautionary tale — and a prompt for course-correction.
