The Times of India 21.12.2009
Rural masses benefit from urban mission
VARANASI: Though Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) is supposed to benefit the urban masses, it is in fact the rural belt that is benefiting the most from the 'facilities' sanctioned under it. Take for example the buses allotted to Varanasi (city areas) for developing public transport system within the limits of the municipal corporation. However, the vehicles are being plied on highways and outskirts by the UP Roadways officials due to the present infrastructure in the city.
Under the mobility plan for introducing public transport system under JNNURM, a list of 23 routes was prepared. On the basis of the same list 150 buses in low-floor, mini, big and air-conditioned categories were sanctioned. In the initial phase nine low-floor buses arrived in the city on November 10. And, in the past few days, 28 mini buses have arrived. As the Roadways officials found that only Cantt Railway Station-Babatpur Airport route was in good condition where the operation of low-floor buses was possible, all the low-floor buses were introduced on the same route in November.
But after a few days, the route was extended up to Pindra Bazar (in rural belt). Now, people on city outskirts are enjoying this facility. The Roadways officials were busy in `adjusting' the low-floor buses when the delivery of mini buses under JNNURM started. Regional manager of UP Roadways Ramjeet Verma informed TOI on Sunday: "The existing infrastructure is compelling us to avoid the introduction of even the mini buses inside the city."
It is not the Roadways but a special committee named Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) which is supposed to operate the city bus service being introduced under JNNURM. The committee, comprising the district magistrate, municipal commissioner, SP Traffic, vice-chairman of VDA, road transport officer and regional manager Roadways, is expected to come in existence to take over this bus service from Roadways in six months' time. Till then, the Roadways will continue to operate the city bus service.
Divisional commissioner Nepal Singh Ravi had asked the Urban Mass-Transit Company (responsible for the project) to conduct a demonstration session before him to make it clear how the plan for introduction of 150 buses in Varanasi- the city of congestion- had been finalised. After the session, the commissioner convened a meeting to ensure coordination between Varanasi Nagar Nigam, VDA, PWD and district administration. After the meeting, district magistrate AK Upadhyaya had claimed that he had constituted four teams to launch anti-encroachment drive in the city to broaden the roads. The administration had no other way than removing encroachments to end congestion before the introduction of buses on city roads. The road transport officials, VNN and police had also been asked to oust illegally operating rickshaws, autos and other vehicles from the city.
However, only one team could be seen conducting the anti-encroachment drive. The drive could not be run continuously while in the lack of follow-ups, the areas were re-encroached. Verma said until the city roads were brought in their actual shape, introduction of even mini buses would remain impossible. He said due to the same reasons, the Roadways had decided to introduce the newly arrived mini buses on Cantt-Mughalsarai and Cantt-Dhaurahra routes (on city outskirts).
Mini-buses await trained drivers
Varanasi: The mini-buses that arrived in Varanasi under JNNURM's city mobility plan are presently standing at Cantt and Kashi depots of UP Roadways as there is no driver and other supporting staff to operate them.
Regional manager of UP Roadways Ramjeet Verma admitted that some drivers had been selected for sending them to Kanpur for training. A list of conductors has also been finalised and forwarded to Lucknow. He said the Roadways was already facing staff crunch hence arranging for drivers and conductors was proving to be a time-taking task. He said with the arrival of trained drivers, operation of mini buses would be started.
