Taking a step forward to cut down losses by running buses in Kolkata and suburbs, the West Bengal Transport Corporation has finally begun the procedure for leasing out bus and several routes hitherto operated by department to private operators on contract basis.
“If this model of running government buses with private partnership turns out to be successful, we will handover more routes to private owners in future” said transport minister Snehasish Chakraborty.
In the coming months a large number of private buses will be phased out as they complete 15 years in adherence to a 2008 Calcutta High Court order that banned commercial vehicles aged 15 in KMDA area. The city is staring at an imminent crisis in public transport as many bus owners are unlikely to replace the old buses with the latest Bharat Stage 6 bus as the cost of investment is too high and the business has had turned unfavorable since COVID and lockdown when many people stopped using public transport, fearing they may contract the virus.
The WBTC also pointed out to the staff-crunch and no fresh recruitment as another reason to implement the PPP model of running government owned buses.
Already, popular routes like C26: Kamalgazi- Howrah has got 14 buses leased out, followed by 16 buses for C8: Joka- Barasat and 14 buses for D1A: Barasat- Tollygunge, which are all now being run by BFOs (Bus Franchisee Operator).
As per terms of the contract the Franchisee will have to pay a one-time security deposit of 50K and a monthly fare of 10-15K to the WBTC. The Franchisee Operators will have to run the buses with their own driver and conductor.
The transport minister also stated that the department was compelled to adopt this policy as a section of bus drivers and conductors allegedly didn’t collect proper fares from the passengers because of which the department incurred heavy financial losses.
