The Times of India           24.12.2013

NMC targets advertisment revenue from Starbus

NAGPUR: Three years after procuring 240 Starbuses under Central government's Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is likely to generate revenue through advertisements on these buses. The civic body has received proposal from a private agency in this regard.

This is one of the two proposals likely to be decided by the city transport committee which is meeting on Tuesday. The private agency has offered to pay premium of Rs12,000 per bus per year for getting advertisement rights.

According to NMC's data, the civic body has not earned revenue from advertisement on the 240 Starbuses since their induction into city bus service in 2010. NMC invite interested agencies on many occasions but did not get any response. The fresh proposal is being seen as a ray of hope for the city bus service.

Another proposal is related to preparing detailed project report for procuring 200 new buses and construction of city bus terminal and parking lots under JNNURM. The standing committee had given approval this proposal last month. Agency for preparing the report will be decided after the transport committee clears the proposal.

However, the proposal to put an end to the long pending dispute between the NMC and Starbus operator Vansh Nimay Infraprojects Private Limited (VNIL) over royalty could not find place in the meeting's agenda again, raising many eyebrows.

The private agency has offered to pay premium of 12,000 per bus per year for getting advertisement rights on 240 Starbuses.