MTC asked to run 50 STPS buses

SHILLONG: Though the Urban Affairs Department wanted the Meghalaya Transport Corporation to operate the STPS buses sanctioned by the Centre, there was no response from MTC.
Currently, the buses and maxi cabs are operated by private parties.
Urban Affairs Minister Ronnie V. Lyngdoh told reporters on Tuesday that recently the department wrote a letter to MTC to get feedback on whether it can run the buses.
Earlier, MTC had participated in the tender process and it was selected to run the buses, but the condition of MTC was that it would be able to run only 50 buses.
After the government agreed to this, the Urban Affairs Department last month had written to MTC to take over 50 buses and gave 15 days’ deadline to operate.
“But we have not received any reply from MTC till date,” Lyngdoh said.
After taking over the urban affairs portfolio, Lyngdoh had called for the review of agreement with private parties as the Government was not making any profit out of the arrangement.
While there are as many as 100 new buses on the road, the Urban Affairs Department is waiting for the report from the Transport Department to either repair or auction the old buses and maxi cabs which are not in good condition.