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| SRTC becomes Govt's unwanted baggage | | New fleet of buses to be entrusted to other agency | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 23: Persistent loss making PSU State Road Transport Corporation has become a burden on the state exchequer and the government is contemplating to handover the new fleet of buses that it proposes to purchase, to some other agency for their viable operations. Official details reveal that government has decided to ply new buses in twin capitals, through some agency other than the SRTC, which has failed to come out of losses for years.
Government is mulling that new service of buses may be run by smart city corporation or an altogether new company.
"The SRTC has already become a burden on the state exchequer. Government does not trust it any more. Even to run new fleet of buses in the capital cities, the SRTC is unlikely to be given any role," an official said. The official said that SRTC has been running in heavy losses over the years and the PSU is not able to pay even salaries to its employees," an official said. For the last four years, the SRTC has witnessed heavy losses and its assets are lying defunct. The Corporation had around 1800 vehicles including buses and trucks in 90s, whose number has reduced to less than 900.
"The government has also decided to pay Rs 5 lakh to owner of each private bus above 15-years-old," an official of State Transport Department said. The decision in this regard was recently taken in a meeting by the authorities of the department.
As per the official documents, the government has proposed to subsidize 500 new large buses in the private sector. Urban transportation particularly in Srinagar and Jammu comprises mainly of mini biuses and auto rickshaws. The bus service in these two capital cities is completely missing, causing increased traffic volume on the roads.
There is a need to have a revival plan for State Road Transport Corporation by way of augmentation of its fleet. In the revised estimates for the current year Rs 10 crore has been proposed to be provided largely for purchase of 45-50 new buses to be deployed largely in hill districts of the state.
"An additional Rs 2 crore each will be provided for purchase of buses for the districts of Leh and Kargil and Rs 1 crore for Gurez which remains landlocked for half of the year," the documents read. |
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