Quashing of private-public partnership deeds to take back Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC) lands, which were doled out to private developers some years back, is in the interest of UTC and in the long run it would help in improving financial health of the body, Uttarakhand Transport Union employees observe.
Roadways Karmchari Sanyukta Parishad members hailed the decision. The employees claimed they were against the decision since beginning as they knew that the private players would not be able to serve the interest of the transport body. At last, their apprehension found ground.
But thankfully, the State Government passed order to cancel the deed to take back lands of five out of use bus stations' lands in the State. The State Government doled out lands of five old bus stations, including Srinagar, Rudrapur, Kashipur, Ram Nagar and old Deldhi-Dehradun bus stand to the two firms under an agreement.
The private players, as per agreement, had to develop the UTC land by constructing buildings on the lands. They had to provide a developed area to the UTC for official purpose and rest area they had to use as per their own choice.
However, the private players could not start work on the lands, let alone carrying out development. Acting tough against them, the Government cancelled the deed. Deepak Jain, UTC general manager technical, confirmed that the Government cancelled the deed for all five plots since they failed to develop them on time. Now, the corporation will carry out development as per its requirement. UTC was looking forward to start work soon.
Vice president of the Parishad Dinesh Gosai said that constructing buildings on the plots was one time investment. Once buildings are constructed, transport body can utilize it as per its requirement and will earn a respectable sum by charging entry tax from the buses belong to other States. Thus taking back of lands will help the transport body in the long run and would improve financial heath.
General secretary of the Parishad Vijai Kumar Mamgai said that the cancellation of the deed was good for the UTC since it got back its property whereon it could construct buildings for its own use.
In the long run, it is going to improve financial condition of UTC since the Government can rent out the shops in structure.