MADURAI: In a bid to improve the quality of services, the Transport Department plans to introduce ultra modern luxury buses on inter-State routes.

Amendments to the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, have been proposed enabling State Transport Undertakings (STUs) to hire/lease high-tech buses from private operators.

The draft amendment vide G.O. Ms. No. 131 Home (Transport-VII) dated January 22, 2007, says when an STU is unable operate its own vehicles on any inter-State route, it may run "any vehicle owned by any person... on hire or lease agreement."

The introduction of ultra modern luxury buses on hire or lease from the private owner will provide comfort to commuters.

It will also reduce the financial burden of the STUs.

The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporations (TNSTC) and the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) are operating at least 400 buses to destinations in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.

A few transport unions have opposed the move to operate private vehicles. "Why should the Government lend its brand to a private bus operator? This amounts to privatisation in a different sense. Instead, we can go for a soft loan to purchase luxury buses in a phased manner. Steps should be taken to curb the omni bus menace in the State as contract coaches are being operated on regular routes, which is illegal. Though we have brought this to the notice of the Government on several occasions, not much action has been taken," said A. Soundarajan, general secretary, Centre of Indian Trade Unions.

Protest registered

The Tamil Nadu Government Transport Corporation Staff Federation general secretary T. Thirumalaisamy said the federation had registered its protest against the move to hire hi-tech buses.

"The quality of public transport can be enhanced through tax relief and subsidies. No amendment should be made to Chapter VI of the TNMV Rules, 1989. Such steps will ultimately lead to total privatisation of the transport sector," he said.

Huge losses

However, a senior TNSTC official said most of the transport corporations were making huge losses.

"The Madurai Division alone is in debt of at least Rs. 150 crore. It would not be wise to go for more loans when there is stiff competition from private operators," the official said.

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