CHENNAI: The Government's announcement to open up the bus transport sector in Chennai metropolitan area for mini-bus operators is welcomed by several sections, especially the middle and poorer classes living in the developing areas of the city.

Urban experts too welcome the fact that the public transport fleet and passenger-carrying capacity will get augmented; and bring in much-needed competition in this sector dominated by Government players.

However, many of them highlight the need for clear-cut regulations and norms for the private providers so that the opening up of the sector does not bring in chaotic conditions into the public transport or affect the poorer sections.

City planners say they have been urging the policy makers to embark upon privatisation for the singular reason of improving public transport, especially in the wake of the burgeoning vehicle population. If the trend of personalised vehicle growth continues, very little space will be left on the road for others to move, they have warned the policy makers.

Studies by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority too noted that people were craving for a predictable, comfortable public transport. "Clearly, we told the policy makers about the need for more buses on the road for mass movement ... And allowing private operators can alone provide a cost-effective solution," a CMDA official said.

M.G. Devasahayam, managing trustee, SUSTAIN, an NGO involved in urban issues, says privatisation is certainly welcome in the transport sector because government corporations, with their accumulated losses, are unable to augment the fleet strength. But the public are demanding more buses.

But privatisation needs to have a framework. Instead of giving to individual fleet operators, the Government can look at zones and give each zone to different operators.

Another issue he raises is that of the urban poor. Today thousands of families among the urban poor are being resettled outside the city. For them transport is integrally tied with livelihood. They need to use cheap public transport to get to their workplace everyday. Some spend 25 per cent of their income only on transport.

In such a situation, privatisation has to consider issues such as road space available, carrying capacity of vehicles, profile of user population, their capacity to pay, issues concerning fare, frequency and their integration with the existing public transport system.

Ad hoc privatisation without norms and regulations will lead to chaos, as it prevailed before nationalisation of transport. Tamil Nadu has always had a good record of possessing a good public transport system. In the present circumstances, "we need a regulator to look at all these issues and for ensuring that the private operators follow the norms and do not indulge in unacceptable practices ... " Mr. Devasahayam adds.

T. Anantharajan, a retired professor of urban transport systems at Anna University, also welcomes more buses on the road. But today, the mini-buses need to be regulated so that they operate smoothly alongside the State corporation buses.

He wonders whether the policy makers had considered issues such as frequency of operation, fare structure, time-table coordination among the private players and creation of termini for the mini-buses. "They cannot simply park in the night along road side, as is being done by some private colleges."

In short, a long-term strategy of privatisation within a strict regulated environment and norms for operations is necessary, he adds.

A State transport undertaking official, who has worked in different districts, agrees fleet augmentation will be now possible with private players. However, he is concerned that private operators in the districts could `poach' into areas where public sector players operate.

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