RMC fails to rope in competent city bus operators

Despite of easing the clauses for operation of city buses, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) is unable to find a competent bus operator for plying city buses. The Corporation has floated the tender for inviting the bidders for the eighth time. However, no transporters have shown their interest in plying the city buses, lying unused for more than a year now.

The Municipal Corporation in December 2016 had purchased 26 more new city buses from TATA Motors to add on to the existing fleet of old buses. At present, the Municipal Corporation has around 91 city buses for ferrying daily commuters out which merely 15 new city buses ply on different routes.

When enquired about the prime causes that are still posing hurdle in giving charge of city buses operation to private operators, RMC City Manager (Transportation Cell), Saurabh Kumar said that due to the monopoly of a few transporters, no private parties are showing interest in operating city buses on the terms and conditions of RMC.

“A few notorious persons in transportation business is influencing the bus operators, hence, by far, we have been unable to rope in the city bus operators. Talks are on with the private parties but we cannot simply handover city buses to any businessman on their terms as it will have a severe impact on our revenue,” added Kumar.

Recently, the civic body had reduced the security money rate from Rs. 1 lakh to 75,000 to lure the bus agency owners. Also, under a lucrative clause, those bus operators managing the operation of at least five buses can also get the charge of city buses maintenance and operation. Earlier, the Municipal Corporation had invited application from those agencies, individual who owns and manages at least 10 buses.

“All measures are being adopted to influence the bus operators. Another major hurdle in plying city buses is unavailability of heavy vehicle operators here. As of now, following the RMC norms, we cannot hand over the charge of city bus operation to light motor vehicle operators. If present status is considered, besides the new city buses as many as 25 old city buses are also being operated on different routes at a cost of Rs. 201 per day,” Kumar further added.