Kokrajhar, Sept. 16: The BTC transport department is planning to introduce bus services to and from Kokrajhar to Siliguri in Bengal, Shillong in Meghalaya and Dhemaji in Assam.

BTC executive member in charge of transport Jagadish Sarkar announced this on the sidelines of the eighth foundation day celebrations of the Bodoland Transports Services (BTS) at the BTS Workshop Parking Complex here.

He said BTS buses currently run services to various remote places, especially in the four BTAD districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri. "The bus service has been expanded up to Gohpur, 580km from BTC headquarters Kokrajhar, and touching 12 districts," Sarkar said.

Currently, 12 buses are in service under the BTS. Of these, Bineswar Engineering College here has enlisted two buses and one is engaged to Bodoland University.

Sarkar said the department earns revenue of about Rs 80 crore annually. However, there is no proper share between the BTC and Assam regarding revenue collection from the BTAD area.

"We have been able to earn approximately Rs 82,000 per day against which expenditure, including the cost of diesel, is Rs 51,685. The average profit is Rs 30,314 per day," a senior transport officer said.

Sarkar said the bus service has benefited people of remote villages and measures would be taken to solve various problems, including recruitment of district transport officers and other employees.

BTC executive member Dhaneswar Goyary, BTC secretary in charge of BTS, Dinesh Boro, BTS adviser Ajit Kumar Sarma, and Rohini Kumar Rajbongshi, station superintendent, ASTC, attended the programme.