By Our Reporter
Shillong: Following requests for extension of the Shillong Public Transport Service (SPTS) under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the State Urban Affairs Department is set to purchase another fleet of 30 buses.
Disclosing this here on Friday, Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said a sum of Rs 4.10 crore has been sanctioned inclusive of both the State and the Central share for purchasing the buses.
It may be reminded that out of 120 buses sanctioned for Meghalaya, 70 are already operating in the State.
Meanwhile, Ampareen also informed that the department will seek the approval of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) committee to select another operator for running the bus service.
“This is still in the pipeline but I am sure that by allowing another operator to step in, probably the MUDA itself, it will pose a stiff competition for the MTC which is currently operating the buses,” she said.
Questions have been raise about the competence of the Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) to operate the bus service after it surfaced that 14 buses have been dumped and left unattended at the bus yard at Saw Lad.
“When I enquired from the MTC about a month ago, I was informed that some parts were missing from the buses. However, when I enquired some experts I was given a different perspective,” she said.
