LUCKNOW, July 24 -- After four previous tenders failed to attract bidders, the Lucknow City Transport Services Limited (LCTSL) has floated its fifth tender, on Thursday, for the maintenance and upgrade of 40 bus passenger shelters through private participation.

As Lucknow prepares to expand its city bus fleet by adding more than 40 buses, the lack of basic passenger infrastructure continues to undermine public transport in several fast-growing parts of the city. Large residential and commercial hubs such as Sushant Golf City, Ekana Stadium, the Lulu Mall stretch, Gomti Nagar Vistar, SGPGI and Vrindavan Colony continue to operate without designated bus passenger shelters.

A Hindustan Times inspection of several bus shelters across the ci...