<p>Bengaluru: Scores of electric bus services operated by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transportation Corporation (BMTC) were disrupted during the morning peak hour after outsourced driving staff went on strike demanding better pay. </p><p>The driving staff of 113 non-AC e-buses attached to Shanthinagar (depot number 3) refused to report for work and staged a flash protest. </p><p>According to the BMTC, 27 schedules from the first shift (7 am to 2 pm) and 46 schedules from the regular shift (7 am to 5 pm) were affected between 7 am and 11 am. </p>.<p>The operations resumed around 11 am after company representatives held parleys with the drivers, it added. </p><p>A BMTC official said, on condition of anonymity, that electric buses attached to other depots were unaffected. </p><p>The BMTC said it was not responsible for the interruption because the driving staff were hired by TML Smart City Mobility Solutions Limited, which has supplied the buses on a Gross Cost Contract (GCC) for 12 years. </p><p>According to the BMTC, it has issued a notice to the company and will take systemic measures to ensure the buses are operated by other depots to minimise inconvenience to passengers. </p>.Tata Power installs 150 charging points for electric vehicles in Bengaluru.<p>The protesters placed three main demands: a pay hike, higher overtime payments and free travel on all Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses. </p><p>The drivers are paid a gross salary of Rs 22,000 and get Rs 18,000 take home. They say the pay is too little and want a hike. They also want better overtime payments and free travel on all buses. Currently, their free travel is restricted to BMTC buses. </p><p>The company has so far supplied 246 e-buses to the BMTC and will provide 675 more over the next few months.</p><p>The BMTC pays Rs 41/km and each bus has to run a minimum of 200 km per day. The company provides drivers and takes care of bus maintenance. </p><p>The BMTC saves Rs 18/km by leasing e-buses from the Tatas. Each bus costs only Rs 60/km (Rs 41 on lease, Rs 14 on conductor, and Rs 5 on maintenance). Diesel buses cost Rs 78/km and Volvo buses <br>Rs 105/km.</p><p>The BMTC has 636 e-buses in its fleet, including 300 buses from Switch Mobility and 90 from JBM Auto Limited. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: Scores of electric bus services operated by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transportation Corporation (BMTC) were disrupted during the morning peak hour after outsourced driving staff went on strike demanding better pay. </p><p>The driving staff of 113 non-AC e-buses attached to Shanthinagar (depot number 3) refused to report for work and staged a flash protest. </p><p>According to the BMTC, 27 schedules from the first shift (7 am to 2 pm) and 46 schedules from the regular shift (7 am to 5 pm) were affected between 7 am and 11 am. </p>.<p>The operations resumed around 11 am after company representatives held parleys with the drivers, it added. </p><p>A BMTC official said, on condition of anonymity, that electric buses attached to other depots were unaffected. </p><p>The BMTC said it was not responsible for the interruption because the driving staff were hired by TML Smart City Mobility Solutions Limited, which has supplied the buses on a Gross Cost Contract (GCC) for 12 years. </p><p>According to the BMTC, it has issued a notice to the company and will take systemic measures to ensure the buses are operated by other depots to minimise inconvenience to passengers. </p>.Tata Power installs 150 charging points for electric vehicles in Bengaluru.<p>The protesters placed three main demands: a pay hike, higher overtime payments and free travel on all Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses. </p><p>The drivers are paid a gross salary of Rs 22,000 and get Rs 18,000 take home. They say the pay is too little and want a hike. They also want better overtime payments and free travel on all buses. Currently, their free travel is restricted to BMTC buses. </p><p>The company has so far supplied 246 e-buses to the BMTC and will provide 675 more over the next few months.</p><p>The BMTC pays Rs 41/km and each bus has to run a minimum of 200 km per day. The company provides drivers and takes care of bus maintenance. </p><p>The BMTC saves Rs 18/km by leasing e-buses from the Tatas. Each bus costs only Rs 60/km (Rs 41 on lease, Rs 14 on conductor, and Rs 5 on maintenance). Diesel buses cost Rs 78/km and Volvo buses <br>Rs 105/km.</p><p>The BMTC has 636 e-buses in its fleet, including 300 buses from Switch Mobility and 90 from JBM Auto Limited. </p>