MUDA a failure in operating JNNURM buses: PAC

SHILLONG: Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Paul Lyngdoh, has pointed out that the cumulative loss to the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) as to the operation of JNNURM buses ‘is huge’.
Chairing a PAC meeting here on Tuesday, Lyngdoh stated that MUDA has incurred losses after it entered into agreement with private operators. “Revenue collection was far better when MTC was engaged to render services from August 2011 to July 2012,” he said.
He pointed out that non maintenance of a separate bank account for depositing revenue collection and absence of adequate steps to ensure operators pay in time for MUDA to not run into losses, have been the main reasons behind dismal collection of revenue.
“The additional chief secretary has committed to ensure that MUDA’s performance is improved. There will be new format and agreement to adopt for the operation of buses,” the PAC chairman said.
“A fresh revenue model and agreement will be decided upon and it should be submitted to the PAC in black and white,” he added.
He expressed concern over the reckless parking of buses in open spaces, saying that such parking exposes the buses to theft of spare parts and vandalism. “Damage and arrangements will have to be made for proper terminals,” he stated.
“The response from the department is that they have received sanctions and will initiate setting up three bus terminals at Mawpat, Mawiong and Laitkor,” he informed.