Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Over 1.5 lakh daily commuters in Bhopal are set to face increasing difficulties as the city’s public transport system is nearing collapse. The number of operational city buses, once 368, has already dropped to just 63, and by September 2025, this figure is expected to fall further to only 28.
The looming crisis is a result of the impending expiry of the five-year contract signed in 2018 between Bhopal City Link Limited (BCLL) and private bus operators. The agreement, which ends in September, has no replacement in place as of now. As a result, 35 more buses will stop operating between July and September, forcing commuters to rely on private auto-rickshaws and vehicles.
According to officials from BMC’s transport department, the situation began to deteriorate in March 2024, when 149 city buses operated by Maa Associates were pulled off the roads after the ticketing company abruptly exited. Although 70 CNG buses were introduced temporarily to cushion the blow, the overall fleet has continued to decline.
To revive operations, BCLL floated six tenders to find a new ticket collection agency for the 149 idle buses—but no bidders have come forward. Officials now fear that the chances of a resolution anytime soon are bleak.
No immediate solution: BCLL
BCLL manager Rohit Yadav said,“There is no immediate solution, though we are trying our best to ensure services don’t stop completely.”He said that e-buses currently under production could bring some relief, but these are not expected to be operational before October 2025.
Service in tatters
At its peak, the BCLL bus service catered to 1.5 lakh passengers daily, including 25,000 monthly pass holders—mainly students, working women, government employees and disabled persons. However, since Covid-19, concessional passes were discontinued, leading to a sharp drop in monthly pass holders—now down to just 2,000.
