Urban progress in Jharkhand is caught in a curious paradox.
On the one hand, the chief minister spiritedly beckons investors - Raghubar Das began a fresh round of investment hunt with a roadshow in Calcutta on Friday - on the other hand, every second project is gasping in the ruthless grip of red tape.
Take for example the government's much-touted Drutgami Vatanukulit Deluxe Bus Sewa. The ambitious Ranchi-Jamshedpur and Ranchi-Hazaribagh services were launched in public-private partnership mode on November 15 last year to boost urban mobility. Nine months down the line, private operator Pammi Travels, roped in to run AC buses on the Ranchi-Hazaribagh route, is actively considering suspension of services, citing government apathy and heavy losses.
Asad Perwez, chairman of Pammi Travels, told this correspondent that they started the service with 22 buses, but were currently running only eight. He said for the last couple of months, they hadn't been able to pay the EMI on bank loan taken to procure buses.
"With each passing day, our fleet size is reducing. We are required to pay Rs 75,000 as EMI to the bank, which we haven't been able to owing to poor earnings. The bank may brand us defaulter anytime now. How can we earn enough when local road transport authorities stall our fleet every now and then, saying we don't have proper permits, which again is pending with the state transport department? We are mulling a pullout," he said.
According to Perwez, Pammi Travels was roped in with the promise of full co-operation at every level, but the government later reneged on its word.
"We were asked to run on no-profit-no-loss basis initially while the government said it would reimburse losses from state coffers. So, we came on goodwill. But today, all those who were in the department have either been transferred or have retired. We are left orphaned at a government bus stand that is in a shambles," he rued.
Last November, when the AC buses were formally rolled out, Pammi Travels was given temporary permits, valid for four months. A second batch of provisional permits was issued after four months, which lapsed in Julythis year. "After a lot of legwork at the regional transport office, we managed to procure a permanent permit in June, but that is of little use because it is not yet countersigned by the North Chotanagpur commissioner," Perwez said.
Incidentally, South Chotanagpur (Ranchi) commissioner Pradeep Kumar holds additional charge of North Chotanagpur (Hazaribagh), Kolhan and Daltonganj commissionaries.
Kumar told this correspondent that he would go to Hazaribagh and check if the countersignature was pending. "I believe, 10-12 buses have already received permanent permits while the rest are being reviewed. There are many other small operators on the route. We have to give them a chance to do business. This particular company doesn't want competition," the commissioner accused Pammi Travels of monopoly.
Perwez denied the allegation. "Not a single AC bus possesses countersigned permanent permit. He (Kumar) is lying. All operators are suffering like us. The truth is that when one man commands many offices, he tends to act in an autocratic manner. The PPP model can never flourish in this state," he warned.
