The Hindu : No finance yet for Maken's dream bus project

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 15, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

No finance yet for Maken's dream bus project

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JAN. 14. While the Transport Department of the Delhi Government is all worked up about introduction of so-called High Capacity Urban buses on the city roads by next month, the delay in giving financial sanction could derail the implementation process for the dream project of the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, and her former Transport Minister, Ajay Maken. The proposal seeking financial support for the prestigious project is hanging fire in the State Finance Department and the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) is yet to take up the issue.

The Chief Minister is bent upon delivering the promise made to the people of Delhi of introducing a new mode of transport by the first quarter of this year and is keen on getting things going. However, the Finance Department could well pour cold water over her plans as it continues to hold on to the proposal relating to the financial sanction for the project.

Sources in the Delhi Government told that officially no orders have been placed with the two bus manufacturing companies for the purchase of High Capacity Urban buses although talks have been held on the issue. There has been a verbal assurance by the Government for purchasing such buses but no official sanction has yet come. The Transport Department has sent a Rs. 40 crore proposal for implementation of the first phase of the project. Out of this, Rs. 35 crores is for laying of the dedicated tracks and putting in place the signal system on the route of the High Capacity Urban buses, Rs. 5 crores is for purchase of buses in the first phase. It is learnt that in comparison to the normal CNG buses, these buses will cost around Rs. 40 lakh per bus and will be able to accommodate around 125 passengers in a single round.

The Finance Department has yet not given its go ahead for purchase of these buses or laying down of the dedicated tracks required for efficient running of this system. Unless the EFC clears the project, nothing will move officially despite the tall claims. It is understood that the first High Capacity Urban bus would be on display at the Auto Expo Show beginning in the Capital on Thursday. The first bus is likely to be delivered to the Delhi Government by January 26 as per original schedule. Apart from this, another batch of 10 buses would be available next month. It is understood the Government has decided to ply the first batch of High Capacity Urban buses on the 5.5 km Dr. Ambedkar Nagar-Moolchand section in South Delhi. "All the talk of introducing these buses on Delhi roads is fine. However, it will not be possible to translate this dream into reality soon as there is no financial sanction. The Department is not in a position to place orders for these buses as no official sanction is there,'' a senior official remarked.

Terming the High Capacity Urban buses as a modern form of transportation, officials said that these buses not only have a capacity to carry a higher number of passengers but also provide a higher comfort level. The drivers would also find the whole experience very interesting, as the buses are equipped with power steering making it easy to drive. The introduction of this new mode of transportation could also introduce the concept of automated ticketing for passengers. As the capacity of the buses is very high and it is not possible for the conductors to issue tickets and keep a tab on ticketless travel, automated ticketing system is the only answer to the problem.

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