With no takers, low floor bus service runs into roadblock
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 18 2012: With no response to the tender called from private firms interested in operating the services of semi-low floor buses provided to Manipur under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JnNURM), the tender bid has been extended.

With no tankers to the tender bid, an embarrassing situation has also been created for the State Government, particularly its Transport Department, in trying to work out the routes for operation of semi-low floor bus services in different parts of Imphal.

According to a reliable source, for the operation and maintenance of the 25 semi-low floor buses sanctioned to Manipur under JnNURM, the State Government of Manipur set up Urban Metropolitan Transport Agency (UMTA) last year with Transport Minister as Chairman and Principal Secretary of Transport as Member Secretary.

In accordance to a resolution adopted during a meeting of UMTA, it was decided to rope in private firms for operating the services of these semi-low floor buses.

Consequently, the terms and conditions were worked out and tender called.

But so far there has been no response to the tender despite extending the period of the tender bid from time to time.

With no private firms responding to the tender, the routes to be worked out for the service of these buses too could not be finalized.

In accordance to the terms and conditions of the tender, interested bidders have to give back the cost of the buses to the state government in installments within seven years of operation of these buses.

The cost of each of the bus is Rs 25 lakhs.

In addition to payment of monthly salary to the drivers and the handymen, the service providers would be responsible for maintenance of the buses.

On completion of payment of the cost of the buses within seven years of operation of the service, the private firms concerned would become the sole ownership.

Furthermore, the terms and conditions made it clear that at the time of submitting the tender forms, the bidders should attach an authorization letter of a bank which would be responsible for repayment in case the private firms failed.

If any of the bidders can abide all these terms and conditions, then they can also apply for service along more than one route.

However, the bus rate to be charged from the passengers is to be finalized by the government.

However, as no private firms have shown any interest, when the service of semi-low floor buses would be diversified is not known, the source added.

It may be noted here that the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India launched JnNURM in 2005 with an aim to encourage urban level reforms and fast tract planned infrastructures development of identified 'mission cities'.

Imphal is one of the 65 mission cities identified under the project with special consideration on urban traffic condition, depleting transport services and the impact of road condition to the urban environment.

The project seeks to reduce travel demand of the office goers and industrial workers from rural areas to the urban areas.

That is why; there is no space for carrying luggages in the buses provided.

Out of 25 semi-low floor buses sanctioned to Manipur under the project, 11 buses have already been procured but only two buses started plying on the roads of Imphal on trial basis since February 23 last.

As Hueiyen Lanpao had already reported, although the initial public response to the services of two semi-low floor buses was nothing short of euphoric, posers have raised over the suitability of plying 650 mm size semi-low floor buses on the existing roads of Imphal city.

Apart from the difficulty in negotiating the buses at road junctures, the narrowness of the existing roads and the space occupied by the medium- sized JnNRUM buses caused traffic snarl behind while dropping or picking up passengers at many points.

Depending on their sizes and specifications, there are six types of semi-low floor buses for sanctioning under JnNRUM to the identified mission cities.

The six types are 900/850 mm, 650 mm, 650 mm AC, 400 mm AC and Mini/Midi.

In all twenty-five 650 mm (medium size) semi-low floor buses have been sanctioned to Manipur at a total estimated cost of Rs 6.75 crores.

The financing pattern for procurement of these buses in Northeastern states including Manipur is 90:10 .

Why the government of Manipur opted for medium-sized buses without any consideration over the existing condition of roads in Imphal city, which is more suitable for Mini-Midi-sized buses, still remains a big question.

The number of buses sanctioned may also have been increased if the state government opted for Mini-Midi sized buses, thus leading to a corresponding increase in the frequency of buses plying on the road.

Other Northeastern states like Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland have been wiser in opting for Mini-Midi buses.

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