[sustran] Centre sanctions 60 more buses, Nagpur Municipal Corporation refuses

[Vinay Baindur]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Centre-sanctions-60-more-buses-Nagpur-Municipal-Corporation-refuses/articleshow/14378777.cms


*Centre sanctions 60 more buses, Nagpur Municipal Corporation refuses*

Anjaya Anparthi, TNN | Jun 25, 2012, 12.21AM IST
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NAGPUR: In 2009, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) had applied for 800
buses for the city, citing the population of over 24 lakh. Today, the
central government's Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
(JNNURM) unit, which functions under the Union ministry of urban
development (UD), is giving NMC another 60 buses, but NMC is not ready to
take them, since it is finding it difficult to maintain the existing buses.

The JNNURM's central sanctioning and monitoring committee (CSMC) took a
review of buses sanctioned for the city on May 30 at New Delhi. According
to the minutes of the meeting approved on June 8, the Centre had sanctioned
300 buses for the city, including 240 standard and 60 minibuses on February
21, 2009. In the meeting on January 3, 2012, the CSMC sanctioned 60
standard buses instead of 60 minibuses. But, sources told TOI, NMC had
expressed its inability to procure and run 60 more buses.

Actually, the NMC had procured just 240 standard-size buses and expressed
inability to buy the 60 minibuses. Later, NMC planned to procure two
air-conditioned buses to run between the airport and the city or in the
proposed 'Nagpur Darshan' tours. However, NMC none of these plans
materialized. Now, NMC does not want the 60 more standard buses despite 70%
funding coming from the centre and state government.

NMC's decision is a big blow for the city as the number of buses is falling
short in catering to the requirements of the city. Besides 240 buses
sanctioned by the government, Starbus operator Vansh Nimay Infra Projects
Pvt Ltd had purchased 230 buses since 2007. Around 110-120 buses of total
470 are non-functional today, leaving 350-360 buses on the roads.

Buses are often overcrowded. Besides, buses are run on very few routes and
yet to start services in many parts of the city. The worst part of
Starbuses is that the existing buses are very badly maintained.

A senior official from Vansh Nimay told TOI that running more buses is not
at all possible. "Bus stand, depot and workshop is must to operate city bus
service. None of these is available in the city. The maintenance of
existing buses is not possible due to lack of infrastructure," he said.

Additional deputy municipal commissioner Sanjay Nipane was not available to
comment despite repeated attempts.

In fact, JNNURM unit is upset with NMC's performance. According to the
minutes of the meeting, secretary (UD) Dr Sudhir Krishna was concerned with
the way the bus funding project is being implemented in the city. "Krishna
also cited complaints being received every now and then by the ministry.
Krishna suggested the state government should review the issues sincerely
and minutely, and take necessary action to sort out these issues."

It is further mentioned that NMC is yet to initiate steps to provide proper
service to citizens. "No details of coordination between Starbuse and
Nagpur Mahanagar Parivahan Limited (NMPL), a special purpose vehicle formed
by NMC to operate service have been provided to JNNURM. Payment to the bus
manufacturers should be done without waiting for the instalments from the
ministry. The state government was asked to submit a reply within 30 days
from December 22, 2011, after an enquiry. The reply is yet to be submitted.
Enquiry was done following allegations made by MP Vilas Muttemwar," the
minutes say.