Smart City e-buses trigger turf war between new BJP mayor, Transport Minister in TVM

Thiruvananthapuram: A simmering dispute over the control and deployment of Smart City electric buses in the capital has turned into a sharp political exchange between Kerala Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar and newly elected BJP mayor of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation V V Rajesh.

Hours after the minister asserted that the Smart City e-buses were not the exclusive property of the city corporation, Mayor Rajesh hit back by invoking a social media post by former mayor Arya Rajendran, arguing that even the previous Left-led administration had flagged violations in how the buses were operated.

Rajesh said Arya had stated in a Facebook post on September 7, 2024 that the buses were being operated outside city limits, including to neighbouring districts, and had complained that KSRTC was violating the tripartite agreement governing the project. According to the mayor, Arya had declared that making Thiruvananthapuram a carbon-neutral city was a declared policy of the corporation, and that 115 electric buses were procured by the Corporation under the Smart City project to ensure affordable and convenient public transport for city residents. These buses were handed over to KSRTC-SWIFT as part of the arrangement. Rajesh said it was Arya herself who had raised the violations with the Local Self-Government Minister.

The BJP-led council, now in power at the corporation, is demanding strict implementation of this agreement. Rajesh clarified that the corporation was not seeking to take over the buses, but insisted that the terms be honoured. As per the agreement, 113 buses must operate within city limits, the corporation should receive its profit share, and it must be involved in route planning, he said.

Earlier in the day, Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar had rejected the corporation’s claim over the Smart City e-buses, stating that they did not belong solely to the civic body. He said the buses could be returned within 24 hours if the mayor submitted a written request.

Addressing reporters, Kumar said the Smart City project was jointly funded by the Centre, the state government and the city corporation. While the Centre and the state government contributed ₹500 crore each, the corporation spent ₹135.7 crore. Since the corporation’s funds also originate from the state exchequer, the state bore over 60 per cent of the project cost, he said.

The minister said the electric buses were procured as part of the project’s implementation. He also pointed out that KSRTC had independently purchased 50 additional electric buses now operating in the city, over which the corporation had no role. Kumar said the Smart City e-buses operate under an agreement involving the state government, Smart City authorities, the city corporation and KSRTC-SWIFT. Under this arrangement, the mayor chairs only an advisory committee, while KSRTC is responsible for maintenance and deployment of drivers and conductors, he said. The minister also claimed that the electric bus service was running at a loss when he took charge but had since turned profitable.

Meanwhile, the mayor said the issue was taken up following complaints from councillors and residents that interior roads were being left underserved. He said at least morning and evening peak-hour services should be ensured on these routes.

Rajesh said the matter would be discussed at the next council meeting and a letter sent to the Chief Minister. Responding to the minister’s claim that 150 new buses would be introduced, he said those could be deployed elsewhere, while the existing electric buses should continue to serve the city.

The row was triggered after Mayor Rajesh objected to the buses being operated outside Thiruvananthapuram limits, alleging that KSRTC had shifted them to other parts of the state under political pressure. He cited an instance where a city bus was found parked at a KSRTC garage in Neyyattinkara, outside city limits.