Patna, Jan. 5: Tourists who wish to see tigers at Valmikinagar or go on pilgrimage at Bodhgaya may have to wait for sometime before they can travel comfortably in air-conditioned buses.
Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation’s invitation to private operators to run buses on these routes has received a lukewarm response.
The corporation had invited applications from operators in the first week of December. Only two applications have been submitted till now — one for each route.
Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC), to increase the number of applications, plans to extend the deadline for submitting applications.
Naveen Kumar, the BSTDC deputy general manager, told The Telegraph: “The corporation wants to run at least two buses on both Patna-Bodhgaya and Patna-Valmikinagar routes. However, we have received application for only one bus on both the routes. Apart from a lack of competitive bidding conditions, our total requirement has also not been fulfilled. Thus, we are planning to extend the deadline for submission of more bids.”
For now, tourists will have to be content with four non-AC buses that BSTDC operates on the Patna-Bodhgaya route.
A BSTDC official said: “Their buses have been in service since 1996. They are doing good business, especially during the peak season between November and January.”
BSTDC officials claimed that patience could yield rewards as most operators want to ensure year-round income before committing to any project.
“As operating tourist buses is a bit different from operating general transport buses, the operators first assess the market situation, including the profit aspect. So the bid submission often gets delayed,” said BSTDC official.
Operators, on the other hand, claimed that running tourist buses are profitable but with adequate support from the authorities.
“Running tourist buses on the two routes is profitable but the authorities should also ensure ground support in the operations, including parking space, booking counter and safety from private opera- tors running buses on the same routes,” said an offic- ial of Eden Transport Pri- vate Limited.
