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New
transport system from June 1
Bhopal, Apr 21: Madhya Pradesh would soon have new public transport
system in the state in which the entire operation of buses on state
highways would go into the hands of private operators from June 1.
Transport Minister Himmat Kothari while talking to media persons today
said that in a bid to improve the public transport system in the
state, the government has taken several important decisions including
de-nationalization different routes.
As many as 171 roads were left, which would soon be
de-nationalization. He informed that three years ago in February 2005,
the government had decided in principle to wind up the Madhya Pradesh
Road Transport Corporation (MPRTC) and de-nationalized 510 out of 681
nationalized routes. “Now with de-nationalization of the remaining 171
routes, private operators will be able to ply their vehicles on all
the state highways and the people of the state would be able to have
better access to public transport even in the remote areas,” he
claimed. “And to attract private operators on routes connecting the
interiors, the government has decided do away with the uniform
taxation system, replace it with a three-tier taxation system and
charge minimum from the operators on the remote routes in rural areas
which would lead to increase in the number of buses and volume of
revenue as well,” Kothari said.
The above step taken by the government is likely to attract 3000 more
buses on rural routes and employment to 15000 persons, he said. The
government will, however, have control on the fair to be charged by
the operators, he claimed saying, “The fairs for different places
would be fixed by the government and it would be ensured that no
operator is able to charge exorbitantly from the passengers.” Kothari
warned the Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (MPRTC) employees
to seek voluntary retirement service (VRS) or be prepared to face
legal action. Kothari said that the state government has decided to
wind up MPRTC, but only 9,600 employees, of more than 22,000
employees, have sought VRS so far. The remaining 13,000 are yet to
avail the facility. If they continue to do so, legal action would be
taken against them.”
Besides, the government has decided to pay the liabilities of MPRTC by
putting to public auction its seized movable and immovable properties,
the Minister said adding that the immovable properties of the
corporation were attached by the District Transport Officers against
the outstanding tax dues of the state government. The minister stated
that at present the corporation has under its possession the depots
and workshops, residential and non-residential building premises and
bus stands in 30 districts of the state. “The value of MPRTC assets
two years ago was assessed at Rs 800 crore. The value today could be
much more but no fresh assessment has been made,” he said.
The department would be required to get these properties evaluated by
a private evaluator, Kothari said. For evaluation of these properties
at district level also, the district collector would seek a joint
report from the public works department and district registrar, he
added. “The District Transport Officers would then duly dispose off
these properties at district level in exercise of their powers of
tahasildar conferred on them under Land Revenue Code 1959,” Kothari
told.
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