After a smooth run of 18 months, the city bus service of AMRUT, formerly JNNURM, is headed for trouble again.
Vishal Sales and Services, the local automobile firm entrusted with maintenance and repairs of 30-seater Swaraj Mazda buses, 50 of which underwent complete overhaul in July 2015, has moved Jharkhand High Court against Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC), the present custodian of the bus service, over outstanding dues amounting to Rs 46.97 lakh.
In reply, JNAC is preparing a counter-affidavit, which they will file soon, alleging the company did not repair buses in the specified time.
Vishal Sales and Services owner Sanjeet Kumar Singh said they filed a petition with Jharkhand High Court last week against the JNAC for its "dilly-dally in releasing the payments".
"We moved high court as we were fed up with the attitude of JNAC officials over releasing money. Earlier, we wrote to state urban development department on our plight."
According to Singh, of the total outstanding dues of Rs 66.39 lakh, JNAC only released part payment of Rs 19.42 lakh in February 2016 while the rest Rs 46.97 lakh was yet to be released despite several follow-ups with JNAC and urban development department.
Singh said 50 Swaraj Mazda vehicles, which had been rusting at Baridih depot, underwent a complete overhaul in 2015, from replacing spare parts and batteries to putting fresh coat of paint. "My firm had engaged over 20 mechanics and other staff," he said.
JNAC assistant engineer Vinod Kumar, who looks after city bus service, said they were aware of the high court petition lodged by Vishal Sales and Services.
"We did not release outstanding payment as the private firm failed to repair buses within specified time resulting in revenue loss," Kumar said. "We will file a counter-affidavit to contest the case."
City buses, Jamshedpur's most affordable mode of transport, resumed services in November 2015 after a gap of more than a year. At present, 30 buses ply on eight routes. Buses have been outsourced to two private parties, Raghvendra Singh runs 12 buses and B.N. Gupta the rest.
