Even after more than a decade since Ranchi became the capital, the city is yet to come up with a proper plan to deal with public transport. This is when around 75 per cent of the citizens are entirely dependent on the pathtic State of the public transport. Ironically, those responsible for the mess have no business than sending the ball to each other’s court.
When officials of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) were inquired about poor condition of bus stops, they put the onus on the officials of Jharkhand State Tourism Development Corporation (JSTDC), which is running the city buses in Ranchi.
Deputy CEO of RMC, Shailendra K lal said, “Under Jawarharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) city buses were provided to RMC but we have given the responsibilty of running them to Jharkhand State Tourism Development Corporation (JSTDC) and they are only looking after it. Poor condition of bus stops is in our vision and we are holding meeting to discuss on the matter and work for its improvement.”
“Moreover we have floated a tender for providing 30 low floor city buses within the town. Out of the fleet, 10 buses will be air conditioned and 20 will be non AC. Apart from it we are planning to introduce 50 more buses for the commuters so that this city buses can cover entire area of the city. The 30 low floor buses which we are getting is in poor condition. First we will repair it and then will run on the roads. Once the buses are introduced within the town then we will construct more bus stops,” he added While the JSTDC officials put the blame back on RMC
Managing Director of JSTDC, Sunil Kumar said, “RMC has only outsourced us the city buses and we are liable only for running the buses, maintaining of bus stops within the city are still lying in the hands of RMC”. City buses are one of the reason contributing to traffic congestion.
“We have several times written letters to the officials of Ranchi Municipal Corporation(RMC) in which have asked them to instruct the bus drivers to stop their bus at the designated spots, more over have also tried to draw their attention on poorly managed and encroached bus stop. We will shift our focus to auto rickshaws once bus start to halt at bus stops,” said SP (traffic), Rajeev Ranjan Singh.
There is no proper bus service so people are forced to travel in auto rickshaws and rickshaws to reach their destination, which turns out to be a costly affair.
A daily commuter Niharika Sinha said, “The city bus was introduced to help the people to provide them a better communication. But the city buses is less in number and also it does not cover entire part of the city. So we are forced to commute through auto rickshaws and rickshaws which adversely affects our budget to a great extend.”
“Moreover cases of road accidents have also increased as these auto drivers stop anywhere and everywhere on road to pick up passengers,” she added.