Corporation seeks 80 buses under hilly area scheme
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In an attempt to revive itself the cash-strapped Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC), the Government-run transport body has sought new sanction of buses in the State from the Central Government.
Sources from the MTC said the Corporation has appealed to the Union Ministry of Road and Transport to sanction eighty buses under a special scheme for hilly regions.
“If the ministry grants the request, there is hope that the MTC, which is in dire straits now, can be revived,’ the sources said, adding that these buses would be pressed into service in the rural areas of the State to boost connectivity and resource generation.
Sources from the MTC also maintained that the special scheme is earmarked for states like Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh besides the Northeastern states.
It may be mentioned that the MTC, which was once the premier transport service for commuters going to Guwahati and other destinations, is now in bad shape with a receding fleet of buses currently in operation to select destinations.
The MTC is presently operating its services to and fro Guwahati, Tura and Silchar and Karimganj (in Assam) while services to other district headquarters are non existent.
According to sources, once the demand for sanction of the eighty buses is approved, connectivity in the State would improve drastically as these buses would ferry passengers from far flung areas of the State.
“Once the Central Planning Commission approves the idea then the MTC would start preparing the Detailed Project Report,” the MTC sources informed under conditions of anonymity.
It may be reminded that the MTC had recently created the Shillong Public Transport Service cell to cater exclusively to the JNNURM buses plying in the city and its outskirts. The move to create the new cell has come as a blessing in disguise for the otherwise cash-starved Corporation.