Patna, Aug. 31: The network of the city ring route bus service is set to expand. Seventy-two more buses would ply on eight different routes soon.
Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) has recently initiated the process of inviting applications from interested service providers to run the new buses in public private partnership (PPP) mode. The last date for applying is September 7.
“We have invited applications for operating the buses in the state capital under the subsidy scheme of the corporation. We are trying to finalise all the formalities at the earliest, but it is not possible for us to give an exact date when the vehicles would start plying,” said an official of BSRTC.
Under the proposed plan, the operator would be given Rs 7.5 lakh for each bus. The operator, in return, would have to give the corporation 11 per cent of the maximum fare for all the 32 seats on every trip.
The new buses are expected to be equipped with the latest technologies, similar to those already plying under the ring route bus service. The new vehicles would be operated from the bus depots of the corporation. BSRTC would provide the bus operators space to park their vehicles.
Several operational obstacles, including the absence of root charts and confusion over designated stops, are giving a tough time to the current operator of the ring route bus service in the city.
“We have both sweet and bitter experience while running the 78 (72 non-AC and two AC) ring route buses in Patna. As we have not been provided with proper bus stops or stands on the prescribed routes, the drivers are forced to stop the buses wherever people want. Also, private bus operators tried to hassle us several times because of the great response to our buses,” said Kunal Sharma, the chief operations officer (Patna) of Eden Transport.
Replacements
Two new buses would ply on route number 2 (Danapur-Patna Junction-Gandhi Maidan) from tomorrow. “The buses are replacements for the two vehicles set ablaze during a public rage in the Danapur area on July 11,” said Sharma.
