Over 5K AMTS buses diverted for Government events in 7 months

Ahmedabad | Gujarat — Public transport in Ahmedabad is once again under scrutiny after official data revealed that more than 5,700 buses of the Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) were diverted for government programmes between May 2024 and January 2025. The frequent allocation of buses for political and official events has sparked concern about disruptions to daily commuters who depend on the service.

According to insiders, councillors were frequently instructed to arrange buses ward-wise, with some chairpersons reportedly asked to provide as many as 15 buses at a time. Ahead of the Prime Minister’s scheduled programme in Nikol on Monday, each ward has been directed to provide three buses. Transport officials estimate that on such days, nearly three lakh passengers could struggle to access regular bus services.

A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Public transport is meant to serve citizens first. While it is understandable that events require logistical support, diverting buses on this scale leaves regular commuters stranded. This undermines the trust in the AMTS system.”

The diversion of buses comes at a time when AMTS is already grappling with financial distress. Saddled with a corporate loan debt of over ₹4,000 crore and daily operational losses exceeding ₹1 crore, the service continues to rely heavily on private contractors. Today, around 880 buses out of its total fleet—apart from its iconic double-deckers—are operated through private operators.

In a recent Standing Committee meeting, it was decided that the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation would release ₹6.61 crore to AMTS for providing these special buses. However, this amount will only be adjusted against the corporation’s outstanding debt.

The scale of bus allocations underscores the strain on the system. Hundreds of buses were deployed for events such as Gandhi Ashram visits, the Tiranga Yatra, polio vaccination drives, International Yoga Day, Garib Kalyan Melas, and high-profile programmes attended by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.