The RMC decision to run new city buses on four different routes to ease down traffic snarl caused by reckless auto-rickshaw drivers was an encouraging step to boost the urban transportation system but the issues of registration, tax rate and fitness permits are creating hurdle in starting the service of new city buses purchased recently from TATA Motors.
JNNURM cell head Ramendra Prasad after conducting a meeting with the bus operators on Saturday said, “Both the operators have asked for some more time. Kishore Mantri has been asked to handover all the documents of old buses to the new bus operator. On May 22, operators will complete the handover and takeover process.”
Earlier, the JNNURM cell Head and RMC City Manager (Transportation Cell) had said that the service of new city buses will be initiated soon after getting all the required documents approved from District Transportation Officer (DTO) but the date to start the operation of new city buses is yet to be finalized.
“Besides the registration and fitness permits issue, the Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) is imposing tax as per the sitting capacity of the bus. However, after discussing it with the DTO, the tax rate has been modified,” said Prasad.
However, RMC City Manager (Transportation Cell), Saurabh Kumar said that the new city bus operator is raising objections in taking up the charge of old city buses. Kumar further added that until the new operator takes the charge of all old buses as per the contract clause, permission will not be granted to start the operation of new city buses service here in the city.
When contacted, the new city bus operator, Suresh Singh to clarify his stance, he denied commenting on the issue. However, earlier Singh had claimed that all the old buses should be repaired and then buses should be handed over to his company. After identifying all the routes within the municipal periphery and after increasing the city bus routes from two to four now, the city buses’ maintenance and operation have been given to two operators Kishore Mantri and Suresh Singh. The decision was also taken to ease down the work load of one specific proprietor.
Notably, Suresh Singh has been given the responsibility of plying approximately 66 buses on different designated routes. As per the RMC records along with 40 old buses, Singh has been given the additional responsibility of maintaining and operating 26 new city buses purchased from Tata Motors, each having 32 seats.
The Municipal Corporation has purchased 26 more new city buses from Tata Motors in January 2017 to add on to the existing fleet of old buses. At present, only 30 city buses are ferrying passengers in the State Capital.