Indian Express 25.09.2009
Of promised 50 for Pujas, just 5 Volvos hit roads
The state transport department on Thursday launched its first set of buses of Volvo make procured under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Renewable Mission (JNNURM).
With the state government facing criticism for being unable to keep its promise of launching 50 new Volvo buses before the Pujas, the West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC) — a state government undertaking — launched five new low-floor buses on Thursday. These buses will ply on the Airport-Tollygunge route and will be run by private operators. Till date, the government has launched 41 new buses under the Central scheme — 36 non-Volvo buses and five Volvos.
While the Centre bears 35 per cent of the Rs 81 lakh that each such bus costs, the state pays 15 per cent plus the amount of VAT levied. The remaining amount is raised through loans by the private operators through WBSTC. Tenders have already been floated by the WBSTC for the purchase of these buses and 10 private operators have come forward.
“Transport in Bengal has been facing a critical situation. Things have become more difficult with the High Court ban that we have implemented,” said state Transport Minister Ranjit Kundu.
“Today is Mahasasthi and what better a time to start running the Volvos in the city? In addition to the five new low-floor Volvos, we will get another 19 such buses soon. We will provide Kolkata with the 50 Volvos before the end of Pujas,” he added.
The buses will charge a minimum fare of Rs 20 and a maximum of Rs 60. The fare would be reviewed after three months. According to Kundu, by this year-end, all the 1,300 promised new buses, including 60 Volvos, will hopefully start operating in Kolkata.
Interestingly, there had been some initial hue and cry by the Centre, when Bengal wanted to operate the buses obtained under JNNURM scheme through private operators since a clause of the scheme states that the buses obtained have be to run by the state government and not given to private parties. However, according to Kundu, such conditions have been worked upon with the Centre.
“We are giving charge to those private operators whose 15-year-old buses have been taken off road,” said Kundu.
“The 700-odd new buses can also be run by private operators. However, we would give them a time limit. If by then there are no takers, corporations like WBSTC, Calcutta State Transport Corporation, Calcutta Tramways Corporation among others would run these vehicles,” said the minister.
