Semi-Low Floor Buses set to descend on the streets of Imphal city
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Amukhomba Ngangbam
Imphal, October 17 2011:
The 11 Semi- Low Floor Buses, which have been procured spending crores of rupees for commencing passenger service in Imphal Municipal area under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission, but have been lying inside the MSRTC complex for a long time, may finally be seen moving on the roads of Imphal from November 1 .
Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, Deputy Director of Transport Department A Shivadas Sharma informed that November 1 is target for starting the passenger service of the 11 Semi-Low Floor Buses in Imphal Municipal areas.
The routes to be covered by these buses have been finalized and the formation of Urban Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA), which is an independent body that would be entrusted with the responsibility of servicing and maintenance of the buses, has been completed.
The Transport Minister would be the Chairman of UMTA while Principal Secretary (Transport) would be the Member Secretary.
Director of MAHUD, Director of Transport, Chief Engineer of PWD, SPs of Imphal East and West, DCs of Imphal East and West, and Executive Officers of Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) would be among other Members of UMTA, Shivadas disclosed.
About the routes of the proposed Semi-Low Floor Bus service, Shivadas explained that it would cover five routes and carry out service along the roads of Heijugang (MU Gate), Koirengei, Malom Bazar, Porompat, Iroisemba, Langjing, etc.
The Deputy Director further informed that the 11 Semi-Low Floor Buses have been procured with the State Government and the Centre each sharing 50 percent of the total cost and the buses were brought to Imphal from Guwahati in January this year.
Each of the buses cost around Rs 15 lakhs and are manufactured by Tata Company in collaboration with the Brazil-based Marco Polo Global Leader.
Quite different from other normal buses in design and mechanism, each of the Semi-Low Floor buses has 80 seats capacity.
These buses have no clutch or gear, and the engine is located in the rear.
Interestingly, from months of lying in neglect first at Kangla and later on inside the MSRTC complex under constantly changing weather has taken its toll on the 11 Semi-Low Floor Buses, which have been used only in March when the President of India visited Imphal.