Despite repeated attempts to streamline the service of city buses, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) is unable to rope in competent bidders for operation and maintenance of city buses. Even after easing the clauses and continuous re-tendering, no agency having experience in handling city buses operation has shown interest in Municipal Corporation’s proposal as a result the operation of city buses has come almost to a standstill.

After terminating the previous city bus operators for violating the clauses, the RMC at present is managing the operation of city buses through engaging drivers and conductors on a daily basis. However, even this temporary arrangement could not improve the status of city bus operation keeping its frequency immensely low at the defined routes.

This is the sixth time; the Municipal Corporation has floated the tender. RMC City Manager (Transportation Cell), Saurabh Kumar said that soon re-tender will be done for hiring an agency who will manage the operation of old city buses. According to the City Manager, at present, the focus is on managing the operation of 26 new city buses purchased recently.

“During the pre-bidding process, two bidders have shown their interest in operating and maintaining of new city buses. Some clauses will be amended as per the decision of Municipal Commissioner. Till June 5, interested agencies can fill the tender while for the old buses re-tender will be done soon,” said Kumar.

Meanwhile, the civic body is planning to reduce the security money rate from Rs. 1 lakh to 75,000 to lure the bus agency owners. Also, now those travel agencies or bus operators can apply for getting the charge of city buses operation who manages at least five buses. Earlier, the Municipal Corporation had invited application from those agencies, individual who owns and manages at least 10 buses.

The laidback approach of RMC in defining the bus stoppages at the selected four routes, lack of facilities like garage or proper space for parking city buses including the stringent clauses over the issue of operating both old and new city buses simultaneously by the hired agency are some prime reasons that are creating hurdle and compelling the agencies to stay away from taking the charge of city buses operation and maintenance.

Currently, city buses ply on four routes --ITI bus stand and Dhurwa and between Kanke and Tupudana covering Harmu road. The Municipal Corporation in December 2016 had purchased 26 more new city buses from TATA Motors to add on to the existing fleet of old buses. At present, the Municipal Corporation has around 91 city buses for ferrying daily commuters out which merely 20 buses ply on different routes.