JNURM buses stare at quick burial
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 22 2013: Launched with high expectation to generate decent income and streamline the public transport system in greater Imphal areas, passenger carriers (buses) under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewable Mission (JNURM) project are today staring at a quick burial due to increasing deficit.

While many of the buses that used to ply on different routes in the initial weeks of the launch have already been lying idle at the erstwhile MST complex, a few more that ply on the Manipur University-Koirengei route are also set to cease service due to rising cost of operation rather than profit as the project had envisioned.

Consequent to loss incurred to the State exchequer in sustaining service on the only remaining route (MU-Koirengei) transport authorities reportedly proposed more funding from the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) which UMTA outrightly rejected.

According to an informed source, a meeting presided by Transport Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar, was held today in which the issue on whether or not to continue operation of JNURM buses was discussed.

The Transport Minister is also Chairman of UMTA, specifically constituted to oversee operation of the public transport system.

It is said that the Koirengei-MU route remains the only section along which three JNURM buses are still in service after those that plied from Malom to Lamlong Keithel and connected DC offices of Imphal West and Imphal East were already suspended.

For reviving service on the now-ceased route as well as sustain the current service line, the State's Transport Department approached UMTA for the funding.

The proposal reportedly detailed debt owed to PCTC fuel outlet amounting to Rs 1 lakh when the service operation was handled by the Police Department, another sum of Rs 50,000 for compensation paid to private vehicle owners due to involvement of JNURM buses in accident cases and Rs 80,000 for pending payment regarding ticket printing cost.

Apart from rejecting the proposal the said meeting also deliberated on the possibility of engaging private transport agencies and consequently decided to float fresh tender for the same even though similar efforts in the recent past had failed due to the respondents not meriting selection, the source maintained.

However, today's meeting decided to make slight amendments to terms and conditions for the proposed tender, the source confided adding that February 13 was also set as a deadline to complete the tender process.

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