Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 16 2010:
The semi low-floor buses being expected from the Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM) would be handled by the Urban Transport Authority (UTA) and the same buses would be deployed in Imphal city.
Notably, Imphal city is one of the mission cities selected from across the country under JNURM.
Though the UTA has not been constituted as yet, it would comprise of officials from the Municipal Corporation, Transport Department, Town Planning, MAHUD and Traffic Police, said an official source.
Of the 25 semi low-floor buses allotted to Imphal under the JNURM, around 12 are expected to arrive at Imphal within the current month.
A joint team of officials from MAHUD Department, Transport Department and Town Planning Department went to Lucknow last month and selected the buses at Telco's manufacturing unit.
The State officials asked Telco company officials to send around 12 semi low-floor buses within the current month and the remaining buses within the month of June.
These semi low-floor buses have certain features which are quite different from ordinary buses.
As these buses have automatic gear system, drivers of these buses need to undergo training for at least a week at Lucknow.
All the 25 semi low-floor buses will be put into service within Imphal Municipal areas.
However, the routes and frequency of these buses have not been decided as yet.
The UTA will decide it once it is constituted.
Money earned from fares would be used in paying salaries of drivers and conductors as well as maintenance of the buses.
The rates of fare would also be decided by the UTA, added the source.