Police seek free BMTC bus travel for plainclothes personnel on duty
The Karnataka State Police has requested the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) to extend free travel in ordinary and Vayu Vajra/limited-stop services to police personnel
The Karnataka State Police has requested the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) to extend free travel in ordinary and Vayu Vajra/limited-stop services to police personnel performing duties in plain clothes, citing operational and security concerns. The request was made by T. Sridhara, Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Headquarters), to the BMTC Managing Director. According to the communication, plainclothes personnel deployed in intelligence, crime investigation, the Central Crime Branch (CCB), the Anti-Narcotics Wing, VIP and ministerial security, and other specialised units are required to move across the city discreetly while tracking suspects, gathering intelligence, tailing accused persons, and monitoring criminal and anti-social activities.
The police department said these officers often face difficulties when conductors insist on tickets, leading to arguments that can expose their identity and compromise covert operations. It noted that revealing their identity while on duty could hamper investigations and even endanger personnel engaged in sensitive assignments. The letter requested that BMTC permit such personnel to travel free of cost in ordinary BMTC and ordinary limited-stop buses upon production of their official police identity card.
It also sought instructions to all BMTC drivers and conductors to honour the facility. The police pointed out that the government has been reimbursing BMTC for free travel extended to police personnel since the 1980s. Initially, the reimbursement was fixed at ₹25 per police personnel per month
for an estimated 1,200 personnel. The amount has subsequently been increased by 10% annually with government approval. The Karnataka police have now urged BMTC to implement the facility at the earliest to ensure that covert police personnel can perform their duties without operational disruptions or compromising their identity.
The BriefWire