The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has constituted a three-member committee to revive and streamline the service of city buses. The committee headed by Municipal Commissioner, Manoj Kumar will conduct a meeting with city bus operator and proprietor of KM Travel Limited, Kishore Mantri, on November 17.

Additional Municipal Commissioner (AMC), Girija Shankar who met Mantri recently said, “Looking at the public convenience, considering Diwali and Chhath puja including the Statehood celebration on November 15, the city bus operator has given his consent to continue the service.During the meeting,Mantri gave his approval over the constitution of the committee and to participate in the meeting to be conducted on November 17.”

AMC stated that the upcoming meeting will be presided by the Municipal Commissioner including other senior officers.

“All facts, agreement clauses including the demands of city bus operators will be studied before finalising any decision,” Shankar further added.

Meanwhile, Mantri after conducting the meeting with AMC including the officials of RMC Transportation Cell said,

“Despite repeated attempts to improve the service of city buses, RMC did not provide any assistance during these years.

Issues ranging from financial crisis to providing a proper space for parking the city buses is posing hurdle in smooth operation of city buses.”

Mantri who is at present handling the operation of 25 city buses further said, “From increment in bus fare in the wake of rising petrol and diesel prices to fulfilling different clauses as per the agreement, nothing has been done by the RMC. My company has given over three month’s ultimatum to the Civic Body to look into the matter.

Final decision will be taken in the upcoming meeting scheduled in mid November.”

Notably, regardless of repeated attempts to rationalise the service of city buses, the Municipal Corporation had failed miserably to rope in competent bidders for operation and maintenance of city buses.

Even after easing the clauses and continuous re-tendering, no agency having experience in handling city buses operation had shown interest in

Civic Body’s proposal as a result the operation of city buses has come almost to a standstill. RMC had invited tender for over eight times.