Ring route buses under Eden Transport Private Limited in the state capital are not plying on the city streets, as a legal tussle is brewing between the operator and Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC).

Transport minister Brishin Patel has claimed that the department was contemplating legal action against Eden Transport for non-payment of dues amounting to Rs 5 crore for running 78 buses under the ring route service in the capital.

On the other hand, Eden Transport claimed it had already filed a case against BSTRC in Patna High Court.

BSRTC is also in talks with other operators for alternative arrangement for the service. Eden Transport officials, however, said no operator would be able to run their buses smoothly owing to BSRTC’s “callous attitude”.

Patel said: “Eden Transport owes BSRTC around Rs 5 crore, under non-payment of royalty and other heads. We have repeatedly asked Eden Transport to clear dues but in vain. We cannot compromise on public transport in the city for long. We are in talks with several other operators to resume services at the earliest. We are contemplating going to court against Eden Transport.”

Eden Transport stopped operating its buses from April 2 owing to an alleged tussle with BSRTC for nearly two years over issues related to their public-private-partnership agreement. According to a pact signed in March 2011, Eden Transport was to operate 70 non-AC (32 seats) and 8 AC (36 seats) buses on seven routes of the capital under BSRTC.

Eden Transport managing director Sachchidanand Rai said they had filed a case in the high court against BSRTC. “We have already filed a case in Patna High Court. BSTRC failed to provide basic infrastructure such as bus stops or stands, which was its responsibility. I would like to question the minister on the contribution the transport department or BSTRC made in the ring route bus service. BSRTC was supposed to give us Rs 8.9 crore as subsidy against procurement of buses, which is pending.”

On the alleged dues with BSRTC, Patel kept mum.

On alternative arrangement for the ring route service, Rai said: “I had ventured into the ring route service without motive for profit. I wanted to contribute to the development of the state. I could not run the service smoothly for long. I can say with guarantee that if I could not run the buses then no other operator can do it either.”