Punjab govt begins process for running AC buses in state

CHANDIGARH: The ambitious plan of Punjab Government to provide self employment to unemployed youth under Shaheed Sardar Bhagat Singh Rozgaar Yojna got a kick start with Punjab Roadways and PRTC starting sale of tender forms for running 300 air conditioned buses under the kilometer scheme in the State.

 



Disclosing this here Thursday Master Mohan Lal Transport Minister, Punjab said that besides providing comfortable travel to the people of Punjab this would provide business and employment avenues to the enterprising youth of the State. He said that under this scheme 300 air-conditioned buses would be put on route through the two organizations with a break up of 125 ordinary Heat ventilation and Air-conditioned Buses (HVAC) and 25 Integral Buses in each organization.

The Minister said this ambitious project could see the light of the day only because of encouragement and vision of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Parkash Singh Badal. Under the new Transport policy which has been approved by the Council of Ministers, the fares of air conditioned bus travel will be drastically reduced thus making it affordable for even the common man to travel in comfort and luxury.

Under the new Transport policy, the fare for the HVAC ordinary (Chassis body) bus would be 10 per cent more than the ordinary (chassis body) AC bus while the fare for the HVAC integral bus would be only 75 per cent more than the ordinary bus  as against 250 per cent.

He said that the tax being charged by the Government has been brought down to Rs. 1 per kilometer for HVAC Buses and 50 Paise per kilometer for Integral buses to make operation of these buses viable for the operators of these buses.

Giving the details of the scheme he said the ordinary HVAC buses being introduced will have 57 seats on a 12 meter long bus giving ample leg space and comfort to the passengers while the integral buses will have 45 seats with air suspension, air-conditioning and comfortable seats.
Under the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Rozgar Yojna Kilometer Scheme, the motor vehicle tax will be paid by the Punjab Roadways and PRTC instead of by the operators.

It is proposed that the taxes being imposed by the Transport Department related with operation of these buses on road will be borne by Punjab Roadways and PRTC. The bidders would have to buy Chassis and get them fabricated as per specifications of the Transport Department and the bidders would have to bear operational expenses like cost of diesel, tyres, spares, cost of driver. He said that the conductors on these buses would be of Punjab Roadways and PRTC. The buses would be provided on lease by the bus owners and they would have to bid the rates per kilometer at which they are willing to provide these buses to Punjab Roadways and PRTC.

The Minister said that Bidders quoting the lowest rates would be selected for providing these buses to Punjab Roadways and PRTC. Last date for submission of these tenders is 30-11-2007 till 2 P.M. in the head office of Punjab Roadways and PRTC and it is hoped that these buses would be put on road very soon.