The much awaited women’s bus service at Ranchi University’s (RU) is likely to get deferred for sometime more as the university is still stuck with the tender procurement process. According to the university officials, none of the bidders came in the first round following the contract clauses. As per RU Officer, College Co-ordination Development Council (CCDC), the terms and conditions of previous agreement will be revised again before floating the new tender.
“We are modifying the clauses of the previous tender of RU women bus service. The problem aroused as no bidder showed interest in the plan. Following a few suggestions, rectification is being made. Soon, revised tender will be floated,” said, RU Officer (CCDC), Girija Nath Shahdeo on the tender clauses rectification process, however, he did not say the exact date when the new tender will be out.
Earlier, as per the clause, the bus operators were supposed to lend 180 days full-time service to the university. “None of the bus operators were ready to take up the project for merely 180 days considering the loss that will be incurred upon them for the remaining days. Recently, we had approached few bus agents but they too have asked to alter some of the clauses of the agreement. As per the State government order this dedicated bus service will be utilized only for ferrying female students and not for any other business mode,” Shahdeo further added.
Meanwhile, he also said that the university will approach Indian Institute of Management (IIM-R) officials for discussing the viabilities of operating buses. “Focusing mainly on the terms and conditions, we are going to take some idea on how IIM-R transportation cell manage their bus services,” Shahdeo said.
Though, the officials of State’s biggest university said that preliminary documentation work has been complete and as soon as the bidder gives its consent, the service will be initiated. A monthly fee of Rs. 100 per student will be charged for the bus service, which is likely to cover approximately 25 KM distance whereas the service will be also extended to the PG departments of the university.
With the aim to check the dropout rate, improve gross enrolment ratio (GER) besides resolving the distance issue that often compels the female students residing in interior areas to quit studies after passing intermediate, the State government in March 2017 announced the female bus service plan for college goers. The bus services at all the State owned universities were supposed to get started on November 15 to mark the State Foundation Day celebration.
Also, within a set time frame, all five State-owned universities had to complete the tender procurement process so that the suitable bidders at different varsities could take up the charge of operating the buses at designated routes.