Breakdowns mar low-floors' track record

NEW DELHI: Months after the DTC undertook a mandatory technical checking of all Ashok Leyland buses after incidents of fire, the corporation's low-floor fleet is back in news for increasing breakdowns.

There have been increasing complaints of breakdowns of DTC's young fleet, most of which was acquired in 2010. From buses getting stranded on roads to non-functioning of the airconditioning, a plethora of complaints have come in. According to DTC officials, 350-400 incidents of breakdowns are reported every day, with the average going up in summer. While the DTC has a fleet of 5,438 buses, only 3,781 are low-floor buses.

The DTC pays both manufacturers for the maintenance of the buses. For the AC buses, the rate is Rs 4.10 per km for the first 75,000km or one year, Rs 5 per km for 1.5 lakh km or two years and Rs 7.10 per km for 2.1 lakh km or three years, whichever is later. For non-AC buses, the annual maintenance contract (AMC) is Rs 3.20 per km, Rs 4.60 per km and Rs 6.50 per km respectively. The AMC is effective for three years in total, and was negotiated by the DTC after the low-floor buses started breaking down after purchase, admit officials.

Last month, the transport minister had come down hard on DTC for its increasing number of breakdowns. He has also announced that DTC will retrofit AC clutches in airconditioned buses and ensure that fans are operational. He had assured that better maintenance of buses would be undertaken after the incidents of fire were reported in the Ashok Leyland buses.

The numbers are worrying. In a 15-day period some months ago, the DTC's central command centre had reported 4,900 breakdowns. From simple punctures to what the DTC describes as merely "technical" problems, the range of reasons was wide. These includes engine defects (227), clutch defects (317), tyre punctures (454), starting trouble (1,271) and buses not being able to pull their weight (271). Other type of breakdowns, accounting for 2,469 buses, involved headlights, oil leakages, problems with driving shafts etc.

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