Improving City Bus Services in India

In this thought-provoking article, Yateendra Joshi highlights effective, sustainable ways in which India’s bus systems can operate smoothly without hindrances, such as overcrowding, confusion in routes, erratic timelines, and arbitrary fares among others.

- Yateendra Joshi

Ideally, how should a city bus system operate? Imagine the following scenario: you need to reach the city railway station (New Delhi or Mumbai Central or Howrah or Egmore, or whatever). You know the nearby bus stop but have no idea whether you can get a bus there that will take you to the railway station. You decide to take a chance and reach the bus stop. At the bus stop, you see a telephone number for information to which you send the name of the bus stop and give your destination (namely, the railway station). Instantly, you get a message telling you (a) the likely time by which your bus would arrive, (b) the exact fare, (c) whether it is overcrowded, and (d) the likely time by which the bus would reach the railway station. You then make your decision whether to wait for the bus or perhaps to look for an autorickshaw.

Information technology cannot put more buses on the road or make bus rapid transit (BRT) operational or ensure that buses run on time, are clean and in good condition and not overcrowded, but it can help the public in making better, more informed decisions. This article proposes some initiatives that we can launch right now, that do not cost a lot, and that could make a difference within a couple of months. Meanwhile, those better qualified to do so – civic administration, police, political leaders, and others – can continue to look for solutions to the more serious problems, such as making the bus service profitable, making the BRT operational, ensuring punctuality, checking that buses are roadworthy, making the staff of a city bus service (DTC in Delhi, BEST in Mumbai, BMTC in Bengaluru, etc.) more accountable, and so on.