The Central Government has sanctioned around Rs2.24 crore in the first phase for the launch of a city bus service in Rajnandgaon. This was disclosed in a meeting of the Urban Public Transport Society held at the Collectorate here under the chairmanship of district collector Ashok Agrawal.
It was informed in the meeting that the Central Government has sanctioned Rs2.24 crore for the management of city bus service while approval has been given for Rs1.20 crore for purchase of buses.The Urban Development Ministry has approved a total fund of Rs5.20 crore or purchase of 20 buses. While Central Government will provide Rs4.48 lakh , another Rs1.12 crore will be provided by the State government.
The Central Government will provide 80 per cent of the cost for the management of the service, while remaining 20 per cent would be provided by the State government.
In the meeting it was told that a total of 36 buses would be purchased including 20 for Rajnandgaon, 10 for Kawardha and six for Khairagarh. Necessary tenders for the purchase of buses have been issued.The meeting also approved agenda wise proposals on society’s rules, financial rights, bank account operation, and its role and functions.It was decided to invite bids for appointment of an Accounting firm to carry out audit of the Society for this current financial year.
Apart from this, the meeting also gave its consent for notification of an Expression of Interest (EoI) for preparation of detailed project report on bus terminal and depot.The district collector has directed the officials present in the meeting to study the Raipur city bus service model.Interestingly, the Urban Public Transport Society has been set up under the chairmanship of the district collector for the management of city bus services in selected towns including Kawardha, and Rajnandgaon.
Superintendent of police SP Shukla will be its vice chairman while Municipal Commissioner TK Verma has been made Member Secretary of the Society.