Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Police has requested the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) to extend free travel in ordinary and ordinary Vayu Vajra/limited-stop bus services to police personnel performing duties in plain clothes, citing operational and security concerns.
The request was made by the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) to the BMTC Managing Director following a representation by Mohan Kumar Danappa, a member of the Karnataka State Police Complaints Authority.
Ticket checks can expose covert officers
According to the communication, plainclothes personnel serving in intelligence, crime investigation, the Central Crime Branch (CCB), the Anti-Narcotics Wing, VIP security and other specialised units frequently travel across Bengaluru while tracking suspects, gathering intelligence and monitoring criminal activities.
The police department said these officers often face difficulties when conductors insist on tickets, leading to arguments that could reveal their identity and compromise ongoing operations.
Officials noted that exposing the identity of covert personnel could disrupt investigations and pose risks to officers engaged in sensitive assignments.
Police seek early implementation
The DG&IGP has requested BMTC to allow plainclothes personnel to travel free of cost in ordinary and ordinary limited-stop services upon producing their official police identity cards. The department has also sought directions to BMTC drivers and conductors to honour the facility.
The police pointed out that the Karnataka government has been reimbursing BMTC for free travel extended to police personnel since the 1980s. Initially fixed at ₹25 per officer per month for around 1,200 personnel, the reimbursement has since been increased by 10 per cent annually with government approval.
In his representation, Mohan Kumar Danappa stated that despite earlier directions, including a 2009 communication from the Chief Minister’s Office and a 2017 request from the DG&IGP’s office, the benefit has not been extended to officers working in plain clothes.
The Karnataka Police have now urged BMTC to implement the facility at the earliest to enable covert personnel to perform their duties without operational disruptions or compromising their identity.