PIL questions Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s high-floor bus plan

BENGALURU: The high court on Monday ordered notice to the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation, the state and central governments in response to a PIL questioning the procurement of high-floor buses.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale adjourned the hearing by four weeks while granting time to the respondents to submit their responses.
Bengaluru resident Sunil Kumar Jain had challenged BMTC’s October 28, 2022 tender notice for proposing the height of the bus chassis to be 1,000mm and not specifying if it would be accessible to persons with disabilities. It does not mention any boarding device for persons on wheelchairs to enter buses, the PIL said. According to him, these aspects are contrary to Urban Bus Specification-II, Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 and judgment of the Supreme Court.
“This petition will benefit persons with disability in Bengaluru. According to 2011 census, there are approximately 2.5 lakh persons with disability in the city... If BMTC is directed to procure buses with a floor height of 400mm-650mm and a wheelchair-boarding device, persons with disabilities will be able to commute in public buses,” the petitioner said.