Two BMTC accidents spark safety concerns over Bengaluru bus fleet and driver fatigue
Two back-to-back Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus accidents in Bengaluru have reignited severe safety concerns over the city's public transport fleet. The recent incidents have highlighted growing operational pressures on drivers and a sharp rise in accidents involving the city's electric buses, which have recently caused fatal crashes and collisions in localities including KR Puram, Banashankari, and KR Circle.
Official data reveals a grim safety record, with BMTC buses involved in 5,864 accidents that claimed 1,142 lives over the last 18 years. In the last three years alone, more than 150 people have lost their lives in BMTC bus accidents. While annual fatalities have decreased from an average of over 90 deaths per year between 2008 and 2014 to around 50 annually in recent years, the latest crashes have renewed scrutiny on the transport utility.
Staff unions and drivers attribute these safety issues to severe driver fatigue and immense operational pressure. Drivers allege they are still expected to follow operational norms dating back to the early 1990s, despite Bengaluru's massive traffic congestion. Under these outdated rules, drivers are often required to cover 250 to 300 kilometres in a single day, leading to extreme stress and exhaustion.
The crisis is particularly acute within BMTC's electric bus programme. Accident cases involving the electric fleet have surged by 483% over the past three years, rising from six cases in 2023-24 to 35 by September 2025. Fatal accidents involving electric buses have also increased tenfold during this period.
Several specific serious incidents have occurred across the city. On February 6, a 20-year-old woman was killed after a BMTC electric bus ran over her near KR Puram. On March 11, another woman waiting at the Banashankari bus stand died after being hit by an electric bus. Other fatal or serious incidents have occurred at Manganahalli, near the Kadugodi Bus Depot, at KR Circle, and near Laggere.
Beyond safety, the electric bus fleet has suffered from 13,800 battery failures in the last three years. The four Gross Cost Contract operators managing these buses have been fined over ₹25.5 crore for poor performance, while driver strikes have resulted in service disruptions and losses exceeding ₹5.45 crore.
