Kanpur E-Bus Service Faces Scrutiny Over Ticketing Malpractice
Kanpur’s push towards eco-friendly transport came under a cloud this week as the city’s e-bus network was hit by a ticketing malpractice scandal. Officials confirmed that over forty conductors have been penalised for collecting passenger fares without issuing tickets, exposing a systemic lapse that risks both financial integrity and public trust in the service.
The lapses were detected through live monitoring at the control room of the municipal corporation, where routine surveillance revealed conductors pocketing fares. The routes with the highest number of irregularities included IIT to Ramadevi, as well as long-haul trips to Ghatampur, Bindki and Unnao. Officials said more than 660 passengers across 40 trips were affected, highlighting a scale that pointed to organised evasion rather than isolated negligence.
Kanpur City Transport Services Limited (KCTSL), which operates 80 of the 100 electric buses across the district, serves around 11,000 passengers every day. Despite this, daily revenue accounted for only ₹3 lakh against an expected ₹4.5 lakh. Authorities suspect that at least ₹1–1.5 lakh was being misappropriated on a regular basis, prompting closer scrutiny of operations. In response, city transport officials issued instructions to the contracted service provider to immediately withdraw the identified conductors from duty and initiate their removal. The move reflects an urgent attempt to restore public confidence, especially at a time when e-bus operations are projected as a symbol of Kanpur’s transition towards clean and inclusive mobility.
Urban transport experts argue that the misuse of ticketing systems undermines not just revenue but also the credibility of electric bus operations as a sustainable alternative to private vehicles. Without proper checks, such practices can erode passenger faith, reduce adoption of green mobility and limit investments in expanding services to underserved areas. Observers say the case reflects a deeper challenge in India’s public transport reforms—where technology-driven systems must be backed by strong governance and accountability. In this instance, digital monitoring from the control room was crucial in identifying discrepancies, demonstrating the value of surveillance technology in protecting both revenue streams and commuters. However, they caution that enforcement must be coupled with regular audits, transparent reporting and an emphasis on ethical practices among contractual staff.
The episode also highlights the fragile economics of clean mobility. Electric buses, despite lower operational costs and zero tailpipe emissions, require steady revenues to remain viable. Ticketing malpractice, if left unchecked, could compromise future fleet expansion and impact plans to replace diesel buses with greener alternatives. For a city striving to reduce air pollution and traffic congestion, this could have long-term consequences. Officials confirmed that the penalised conductors will not be reinstated, and fresh recruitment will be undertaken with strict compliance measures in place. Meanwhile, transport analysts believe that introducing smart ticketing solutions, such as contactless payments and digital passes, could create a more transparent and equitable system that aligns with the city’s ambition of sustainable, net-zero transport.
