Imphal, June 26: Chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh recently restored the Manipur State Transport (MST) services by flagging off the inter-district and city buses to mark the completion of 100 days of the BJP-led government in the state.

The state transport services were non-functional for the past two decades, as the Manipur State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) had been abolished in 2003 after suffering losses.

In the absence of the state transport services, private operators continued the inter-district bus services, while auto-rickshaws plied for short distances.

The Biren Singh government decided to revive the public transport services on completing 100 days in office.

Biren Singh said the MSRTC had become a losing concern because of mismanagement and lack of sense of ownership among officials of corporation and the public.

After the decommissioning no government tried to restore the public transport system.

The chief minister flagged off six inter-district bus services from the Manipur State Road Transport Corporation complex at Moirangkhomg and addressed a gathering at the inter-state bus terminus (ISBT) here.

Four city buses, provided under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, were launched from the bus terminus.

The buses will ply on the Imphal-Jiribam Road (National Highway 37), Imphal-Churachandpur Road (National Highway 150) and some state highways in the valley. For the time being, the service will be provided during the daytime only. So far, Imphal has not been connected with any district through the state public transport service.

Biren said the fare would be less than those of private operators. The state transport department will operate the services.

The chief minister expressed confidence that the public transport services would be a success.

He said more buses would be introduced in phases and urged the people to consider the buses their own property.

Commerce and industries minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, who also attended the function, said the Centre had agreed to sanction an additional fund under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana to develop road connectivity across the state. He said the works department would make all possible efforts to keep the roads in good shape.

In the first phase, the MST will operate the city buses in two routes along the ring road. The buses will start from the ISBT. Initially, the inter-district buses will connect Noney, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Pherzawl with Imphal.

The government plans to launch a fleet of 150 buses in three phases.

The officials could not say exactly how much was lost by the transport corporation. They said the number of employees for the services would be finalised soon.

A host of ministers and parliamentary secretaries attended the programme.