Urban News

The Hindu 26.09.2009

Introduction of low-floor buses hit

S.Anil Radhakrishnan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The introduction of low-floor buses in the capital city under the Urban Transport Project of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) has been delayed due to indecision on the part of the government in constituting a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and the alleged rift over managing the fleet.

Under the Rs.110.2-crore project, the City Corporation was to procure 150 low-floor buses, including 30 air-conditioned ones to operate services in the city and its suburbs.

List of routes

The Corporation Council had even approved the draft list of routes prepared by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).

The first 15 of the air-conditioned low-floor buses to be introduced in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram are ready for delivery and are idling in Bangalore, official sources said. The government had even announced that they would start plying the roads by September.

Hurdles galore

But the issues over setting up of the SPV, ownership of the buses, crew and supply of diesel, besides parking bays and bus stops where passengers can board and alight with ease have become hurdles. Exemption to luxury buses for changes in seating pattern, doors, windows, exit door and height is also delaying the commencement of services.

As per the government directive, an SPV has to be formed with representatives of the KSRTC, municipal corporations in the two cities and the departments of Local-Self Government, Transport and Finance for managing and operating the fleet of buses.

Official sources said the KSRTC has opposed the setting up of an SPV and is mooting a subsidiary under the State road transport undertaking to manage the services of the low-floor luxury buses. Discussions in this regard are being held at the government level.

KSRTC’s fears

The KSRTC management fears that the new fleet of luxury buses would bring down its daily revenue in the two cities. “The KSRTC gets the highest collection from the capital and the new fleet will definitely cause a dent in the road transport corporation’s daily collection,” a top KSRTC official said.

The change from the conventional doors on the front and back to the front and centre, different height for platforms, absence of guard rails and grab rails, closed windows, varying height for the interior of the buses, changes in the dimensions of the exit door and change in the seating pattern have to be addressed before registering buses.

A top Motor Vehicle Department official said there was no need for making amendments to the Kerala Motor Vehicles Rules as suggested by some quarters to incorporate the changes.

“The government has the powers to give exemption and bus owners should apply to the government after remitting the requisite fees,” he said.

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.