Despite having not procured a single bus notwithstanding the provision of Rs 12 crore under JNNURM for coming up with a city bus service, the Bihar Government has now approached the Centre with plans to implement the project on a PPP mode.
The Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCO) has approached Urban Development Ministry with its plans for as many as 547 mini/midi buses for 10 cities in the State. BUIDCO has also stated that it will require around Rs 353 crore for ancillary infrastructure in these cities, sources said. The Urban Development Ministry has termed the bus service in Bihar as “embarrassing” and expressed its displeasure over the fact that Patna is the only city in the State that has ensured bus service for commuters.
Under JNNURM, launched in 2009, the State Government had proposed to purchase 100 buses for Patna and another 25 buses for Bodh Gaya. However, the State neither utilised the over Rs 12 crore funds, given as an initial amount to execute the plan, nor responded to the Centre’s query in this regard.
“City bus service is very essential component for cities and that Bihar should take up gross cost model for operating buses on PPP mode since the ridership has stabilised,” sources quoted SK lohia, OSD (Urban Transport), UD Ministry, as having suggested to the Bihar Government officials. The Centre has asked all the State Governments to submit their proposals for procurement and operation of buses in the municipal corporations, which were not covered in phase I.
Around 10,000 buses will be purchased for the States particularly Hilly States to improve public transport system across the country as has been announced in the Union Budget early this year. A sum of Rs 14,873 crore has been allocated in the Budget and a significant portion is to support the purchase of 10,000 buses.