Anjan Dutta inaugurates a diesel pump. Picture by Eastern Projections

Nov. 28: As part of its ongoing revival process, the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) today launched the sale of diesel from its Ulubari depot to private vehicles operating under it.

Transport minister Anjan Dutta, who inaugurated the sale this afternoon in the presence of ASTC chairman and MLA Bimananda Tanti, managing director R.C. Jain and senior Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) official Mainak Patra, said the new venture is estimated to fetch the corporation Rs 1 lakh a month in profit. The sale has been launched on an experimental basis now.

“It is a red letter day for Assam. The venture, the first of its kind, will be beneficial to both the corporation and the private-owned buses, which can now be assured of quality. The venture is part of the ASTC’s efforts to make the private operators feel a part of the corporation,” Dutta said.

Asserting that the ASTC is firmly on its way to revival with its income increasing substantially, the transport minister, however, warned the employees of the corporation against complacency as “it might affect them more than the organisation in the long run.

“I feel sad to say that despite our success, there have been reports of a few employees not giving their best. We still have a lot of ground to cover and, therefore, need to be much more vigilant against any kind of laxity. It is hoped the employees will continue to work in the interest of the corporation under Tanti,” Dutta added.

The newly-appointed ASTC chairman said more such ventures like the Ulubari depot were in the pipeline.

As a measure to woo the private bus operators, the Ulubari depot will offer a concession of 4 paise on each litre of diesel.

Jain said five persons would be deputed by the corporation to man the depot, which will operate from 6 am to 9 pm.

There are nearly 486 private buses operating under the ASTC in Guwahati alone.

“Besides, there will be those coming from outside the city. Diesel, which costs Rs 19.64 per litre, will be available at our depot for Rs 19.60. Leaving aside the concessions, the private operators will also be assured of quality,” Jain said.

“We are also grateful to the IOC for the help they have extended in the revival of the dispensing unit. We hope to do good business,” the ASTC managing director said.