The Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC), the local civic urban body looks all set to take over JNNURM-sponsored city-bus service presently run by the Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC).
Officials of JNAC said that the ball has been set rolling to take over the service and initial stages of talks have started. Special officer of JNAC, Deepak Sahay said that discussions have already taken place with the state government for takeover of the bus service. The JNAC special officer said that they want to make the public transport system efficient.
"We have given a proposal to the government for takeover of the bus service. The issue will be discussed with the state urban development secretary, Ajay Kumar Singh, during a meeting in Ranchi on June 3 so that we can run the bus service in much efficient way. JTDC manager, S K Jha confirming the development said that they are also pursuing the matter with the JNAC .
launched in the city in 2010 with a fleet of 50 vehicles and eight notified routes, the service has now been reduced to 15 buses on as many as five routes. Notably, Jamshedpur was allotted a fleet of 50-odd city buses when the service was launched as part of the JNNURM in 2010. Out of the 50 city buses allotted only 15 are running on three-four routes while most of these buses remain stranded at the Baridih depot due to lack of maintenance.
The Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC), Mango Notified Area Committee and Jugsalai municipality had mooted a proposal to run city bus service under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) as per the public private partnership (PPP) model. The proposal, discussed East Singhbhum additional district magistrate (law and order) Ajit Shankar, was sent for consideration and final approval to the state urban development department.
As per the proposal, an Expression of Interest would be taken out by JNAC for selection of a private party for running of the city bus services which would be monitored by the urban development department. The buses would be repaired by the urban development before being handed over to the private party.
Out of the 50 Swaraj Mazda make buses procured under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in 2010 at a cost of nearly Rs 5 crore only 10 odd buses are in running condition at the moment in only three out of the seven notified routes.