Shillong, March 22: Public transport buses belonging to private owners have been plying for decades on the roads of this hill city, but not buses operated by the Meghalaya government, thanks to poor maintenance.

The old Bedford model buses, owned by private operators here, are very popular even now. These vehicles proved to be better and long-lasting than the government-run buses, going by the number of state buses that are off the road.

The Centre has given 120 buses to Meghalaya under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme now known as Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation scheme. These JNNURM buses come under Shillong Public Transport Service, launched by chief minister Mukul Sangma on July 22, 2011.

Besides JNNURM buses, the Meghalaya government also pressed into service similar buses along with maxi taxis funded by the Centre under the 13th Finance Commission.

But in a span of over four years, the Meghalaya government has exposed its failure to efficiently run and manage these public transport buses and maxi cabs as many of these vehicles are no longer fit to ply on roads.

Sources in the Meghalaya urban affairs department said out of 120, as many as 38 buses have been found to be no longer fit to ply on the city's roads.

"These 38 buses have been running for over four years. The condition of the buses is such that condemning them is the only option as they are beyond repair," a source said.

The Meghalaya government has handed over these public buses and taxis to some groups to operate in the city and other places on the outskirts.

Many veterans here who witnessed the operation of Bedford buses in the city since the early Seventies, expressed shock to know that in just four years many government-run buses have collapsed. "The Bedford model buses have proved to be beneficial for residents of the city. They last long and some of them I saw are on the roads till now," said E. Pyngrope, an octogenarian, who recalled the popularity of Bedford when he was in his 40s.

"It is a big loss for commuters here. The government and the groups operating these JNNURM buses should be held responsible as they have failed to maintain public assets," Pyngrope said.

Till today, a few Bedford model buses owned by private owners are plying to and from villages outside Shillong, such as Smit, Mylliem, Tynrin and other places everyday. These private buses did not look old because they are in good condition and well maintained by their owners.

In the city, one of the oldest Bedford buses still plying on roads till today is the blue-and-yellow bus bearing the registration number ML05-4302.

In the past, Bedford buses used to ply to various localities of the city including Mawlai and Madanrting and most of the commuters opted to travel in these buses instead of taxis. However, a number of old Bedford buses disappeared from Shillong's roads in 2004, leading to mushrooming of the yellow-and-black taxis that operate as a replacement for the city's commuters.