Representatives from more than 20 city bus transport agencies, private operators and other stakeholders, including organizations in Indore, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Rajkot and Naya Raipur, attended a two-day training workshop conducted by EMBARQ India with support from the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), in Visakhapatnam on August 30-31, 2012. This workshop, on driver training, fuel efficiency, and vehicle maintenance, was the second of EMBARQ India’s "Talking Transit" series, an initiative of the Bus Karo Plus programme.

Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) scheme, the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) has assisted many cities to initiate or expand their city bus operations. In the decades to come, bus-based transport will be integral to urban public transport owing to its relatively low cost, quick implementation, and flexibility. However, bus transit agencies continue to face challenges owing to several operational, financial, and administrative issues. The workshop looked at strengthening bus operations with a focus on driver training and fuel efficiency. Experts from local and international agencies spoke on the subject.

Thanks to improved operational efficiency, APSRTC in Visakhapatnam has been achieving an efficient 5.22 kilometers per liter (kmpl) on its city routes over the last decade. This is contrary to the popular belief that fuel economy is solely dependent on vehicle maintenance or purchasing new buses with improved technology. Operational efficiency saves the corporation close to 9 percent of the total cost of operations.

The workshop focused on APSRTC's experiences and the lessons learned from their operational best practices that would help other city bus transit agencies improve their transport services, passenger safety, financial viability, and the impact on the environment. This workshop and the Talking Transit workshop series are supported by a grant from the FedEx Corporation.

To read the full news article, visit EMBARQIndia.org.