Missing city bus spare parts stall new route planning

Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has hit a snag in the process of plans to extend the reach of city bus service, thanks to unavailability of the spare parts for the under repair city buses.The plan to provide economical mode of transport at Ranchi and Hatia Railway stations is also being delayed due to widespread opposition raised by the auto-rickshaw association, having a monopoly over city’s public transport system.

“Repair work is being done on the buses. We intend to run city buses from Dhurwa to BAU after we have the required number of buses,” stated RMC PRO Naresh Kumar Sinha.But this ongoing repair work is facing delays due to unavailability of spare parts. “Only 20 buses were allotted when we began, which is way less than required. We were asked to get rest of them serviced. For this, we have to get each and every spare part from Delhi as the dealer from whom these buses were purchased has already closed business,” said Kishore Mantri, proprietor of Kishore Mantri Travels, the firm charged with the responsibility of the city bus service in Ranchi.

A committee has been formed to plan the new routes for city buses, but has not convened even once to discuss the issue. The committee will be holding its first meeting within a week or two, according to an ITDP source.Plans to widen the reach of city buses, which now cover a distance of twenty kilometers from Dhurwa to ITI, is facing other hurdles apart from the lack of spare parts.

“The funds we were promised for getting the buses serviced are still in the pipeline. Plus, there are hardly any bus stops even on the route we operate on. The ones which are there are either insufficiently equipped or encroached, making them unsuitable for use as bus stops,” Mantri said.Auto-rickshaws, which presently constitute a significant bulk of public transport in the city, also pose a problem in implementing city bus service across Ranchi.

“We wish to have bus terminals near Ranchi and Hatia railway stations in the city to provide an economical means of transport for those arriving in the city but the auto-rickshaw drivers disagree with the idea. Buses can ease the load of traffic on city streets, if the auto-rickshaw drivers agree to give up their monopoly over the city’s public transport,” stated Mantri.

“We are looking for locations to set up bus terminals near the major railways stations and the new routes will touch them too once we have sufficient vehicles,” said the RMC PRO.