JAIPUR: With increase in allocation of funds for projects running under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in the Union budget, the Jaipur City Transport Services Limited (JCTSL) has geared up to submit proposals for 500 new low-floor buses.

Already 100 new buses have been added to the JCTSL making the total
strength of low-floor buses to 400. The additional 500 new buses will
boost the public transportation in Jaipur.

“The study conducted
for public transportation in the city suggested at least 2,000 buses.
So we are in a process to raise demand for more number of buses. The
budget for it is likely to be around Rs 250 crore. Apart from the buses,
a request for separate allocation of funds for construction of depots
will be made to the Centre,” JCTSL managing director Shuchi Sharma said.

At present, the JCTSL is in the process of inducting 40 new AC buses which will ply on the existing routes. The rest
of them are expected to arrive by the March end. “The new fleet will be
pressed on operational routes and some of the buses will be used for
our dedicated services like Udyog and Shakti vahini,” Sharma added.

To ensure proper upkeep of the buses, the company will use the money
for construction and upgrade of depots at Bagrana, Sikar and Mansarovar.
According to sources, the JCTSL has moved a proposal to construct a
two-level parking at all the depots and a separate maintenance section
at Sikar and Bagrana.

However, shortage of manpower challenges
for JCTSL are abound. The existing low-floor buses in the city,
introduced in 2010, are becoming more of a burden than a luxury. Due to
lack of proper maintenance, number of buses are rusting away in garages
than providing comfort rides on roads. The company is also running short
of staff, drivers, conductors and mechanics. “For 300 buses, only 36
mechanics are employed while 40 are on contract,” one of the employees
said.