Source: Hueiyen News Service / GC Loitongbam
Imphal, November 11 2009:
With a view to improving the transport system of Imphal city, the Union Ministry of Urban Development will be providing 15 brand new non-AC semi low-floor diesel buses to Manipur under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewable Mission (JNURM).
The buses will be arriving at Imphal soon, a source from the Manipur Housing and Urban Development (MAHUD) disclosed.
The source said, as part of the plan being taken up by the present SPF government to make Imphal a clean modern city, the Union Ministry of Urban Development will be giving Manipur 25 non-AC semi low-floor diesel buses under the JNURM.
For the first phase, the Ministry will be releasing 15 such buses, for which all processes have been finalised.
The source further said that apart from providing new buses in order to improve the public transport system in Imphal city, there is a line of action plans to be taken up under JNURM to make Imphal a sparkling city.
The diesel buses are supplied by Tata company.
The floor height of the bus is 650mm.The cost of one buse is Rs 29,66,000.The total cost of 25 buses will be Rs 7,41,50,000 .
The source said that in response to call for tender for supply of new buses, two famous companies, namely, Tata and Ashok Leyland had applied for the same.
However, Tata company was selected to be the supplier.
Earlier, the Ministry was ready to provide 15 buses for the first phase in September last and 10 buses in October last.
But as necessary processes had slowed down, the earlier plans had been delayed.
Yet 15 buses will be arriving at Imphal very soon, the source said.
As soon as the new buses arrive here, the MAHUD will hand them over to the state Transport Department.
Then the Department will start necessary processes as as passenger service, fare, routes, the place for parking, maintenance, etc.
The role of MAHUD is only acquiring the buses from the Ministry, the source said.
On the other hand, Commissioner, MAHUD, Government of Manipur, S Sunderlal and Chief Town Planner, H Dilipkumar are at present camping in New Delhi to attend series of meetings with officials of the Ministry of Urban Development.
The two officials will insist the Centre to release the buses as soon as possible.
The two officials have reportedly met the officials of the Ministry today.
The meeting will continue tomorrow also.