Nagpur's public transport suffers as NMC, VNIL play blame-game

 

PUBLIC INTEREST

Staff Reporter
Nagpur is growing but the city’s public transport has become a victim of the blame-game being played by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Starbus service operator Vansh Nimay Infraprojects Limited (VNIL). Though many buses are off-the-road, NMC is shying away from initiating some action. On the other hand, the operator has been demanding reimbursement of concession granted to students from NMC, which is trying in vain to get the amount reimbursed from the State Government.

Under the Centrally-sponsored Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), NMC received 240 low-floored buses (popularly known after its brand name Starbus) in the year 2010. Prior to that in 2007-08, NMC entered into an agreement with VNIL to run the city bus service. Then, VNIL procured 230 buses and brought those into operation. In the year 2010, NMC received a total of 240 buses including 60 buses in the month of April, 34 in August, 33 in September, 55 in October, and 58 in November. Owing to various issues ranging from poor maintenance or neglect towards timely maintenance, the operator company started taking off-the-road its buses.
According to NMC officials, most of the buses on road are the ones received under JNNURM. Still, there are many buses received under JNNURM that are awaiting repairs and off-the-road. There were issues of parking space availability. While the VNIL said that NMC was to make available parking space, NMC said that Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) -- which once operated city bus service but quit after incurring losses consistently -- should make available its space at Mor Bhavan for parking of city buses operated by VNIL. MSRTC refused to part with the land, and lack of parking space resulted in VNIL parking its buses on the roadside creating new point of inconvenience to the people. Miscreants started damaging the buses, and again the public transport suffered.
Asked about this, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Sanjay Kakde told ‘The Hitavada’ that NMC had served legal notice to VNIL over keeping the buses off-the-road, but there has been no change in the situation. On the issue of NMC inviting ‘Expression of Interest’ to appoint second operator for city bus service, Kakde said, “It is under process.”

Non-reimbursement of concession
amount affects student routes
* Govt says no to reimburse concession amount to NMC

Staff Reporter
Reimbursement of amount of concession granted by VNIL to students, freedom fighters, blind, and disabled persons has become another bone of contention between NMC and VNIL for years and this has resulted in the operator taking steps as stopping plying of buses on certain routes to maintain financial balance.
According to NMC sources, MSRTC also used to provide bus passes at concessional rates to students, freedom fighters, blind, and disabled persons and seek reimbursement from the State Government. State Government made book adjustments and it was shown on book that reimbursement amount was adjusted in aid it gave to MSRTC. However, VNIL being a private operator appointed by NMC, no such ‘book adjustment’ facility was available. Still, NMC asked the State Government to reimburse the amount of concession to NMC so that it could reimburse the same to VNIL. This has been going on since 2007-08 and the amount of concession sought by VNIL from NMC has accumulated to Rs 52,15,21,278 till date.
However, all hopes of NMC have been dashed by the latest communication from the Government. A letter signed by V A Daingade, Desk Officer, Home Department, Government of Maharashtra, and addressed to Nagpur Municipal Commissioner states it clearly, “There arises no question of Government reimbursing the amount of concession granted to students and others in the public transport in the area of local body.” The letter has asked NMC to take ‘appropriate decision at its level’ in this regard.
As a result, said NMC officials, the city bus service operator is cutting down its operating costs and certain routes have got affected. Besides, as the concession amount is not being reimbursed, certain routes with high student flow are in trouble. This is causing a great inconvenience to many schools and colleges as their students used the city bus service to travel between their homes and institutions.

Year-wise concession amount
VNIL has sought from NMC
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Year           Concession amount

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2007-08     Rs 47,37,716

2008-09     Rs 90,94,942

2009-10     Rs 4,96,10,992

2010-11     Rs 9,23,33,408

2011-12     Rs 12,47,58,322

2012-13     Rs 11,06,27,154

2013-14     Rs 12,76,44,494

2014-15     Rs 27,14,250

(so far)

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Total          Rs 52,15,21,278

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(27-06-14)