BMTC inspects 7-metre buses as it plans 200 midi buses

…economics another hurdle However, technical and safety issues are not the only challenge. According to officials, the economics of operating mini and midi buses have also made BMTC cautious about expanding their use. “ BMTC assesses bus operations by comparing the cost per kilometre (CPKM) with the earnings per kilometre (EPKM). Smaller buses have lower passenger-carrying capacity but require largely the same basic crew arrangement as bigger buses. A standard 12-metre BMTC bus can carry substantially more passengers than a mini or midi bus, while the driver and conductor costs remain broadly similar. As a result, smaller buses can struggle to generate enough revenue to cover their operating costs, particularly on routes with weak ridership ,” an official said. The issue becomes more significant under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model used for several of BMTC’s electric buses. Under this arrangement, a private operator owns and maintains the vehicle…