Karnataka govt leasing e-buses to privatise RTCs: Employees’ League

The Karnataka State Road Transport Employees’ League has said that the state and the central governments are using electric bus procurement as a tool to privatise road transport corporations (RTC).

Members of the League, who held a press conference on Monday, criticised the gross cost model used for leasing buses from private companies.

Referring to Transport Minister R Sriramulu’s announcement that 35,000 e-buses will be leased by 2030, the president of League R Chandrashekhar said the governments are not allowing the RTCs to purchase the e-buses.

“Instead, we are made to lease the buses and pay the private companies, who also provide drivers. By 2030, all buses will be private buses.