MTC urges Govt. to procure 350 buses

By Akila Dinakar

CHENNAI, SEPT. 15. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has urged the Government to procure 350 buses for addition to and replacement of its fleet. This follows the announcement on the floor of the Assembly by the Transport Minister, Mr. Nainaar Naagendran, that 1,550 buses would be added to the fleet at a cost of Rs. 150 crores. The city can hope for a net addition of 150 buses.

Traffic jams owing to proliferation of private vehicles and a resultant increase in the automobile pollution have become order of the day mainly because the MTC fleet strength is unable to meet the increasing demand of commuters. During peak hours, commuters in congested areas are taking to mini-vans and five- seater share autorickshaws.

Subject to the purchase of the number of buses requested, the MTC will go in for 10 low-floor and 10 vestibule buses. Over 200 buses which are more than eight to 10 years old will be replaced. The remaining 150 buses will be part of fleet augmentation, according to officials. While 98 buses were augmented in 1999- 2000 and 14 in 2000-2001, replacements for the two years were 112 and 129 respectively.

Once new buses are on the roads, the MTC will concentrate on pumping in more buses in heavy traffic areas like Tiruvottriyur to Tiruvanmiyur, Tambaram to Red Hills and Parrys to Injambakkam. Shuttle services will be operated from Chennai Central and Parrys to Saidapet.

At least 20 women specials will be introduced especially during college hours. With the Government announcing that women drivers and conductors will be appointed on specific routes, the MTC will recruit the next batch of women drivers being trained by the Institute of Road Transport. The existing 22 women stand conductors will function as bus conductors.

Five chartered services will be operated for the Corporate sector where new buses will take commuters to Tidel Park, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Polaris and other software concerns on Old Mahabalipuram Road. After operation of chartered trips, the buses will be put on circular routes covering places such as Guindy, Saidapet, Raj Bhavan, Malar Hospital and Greames Road.

Services for schools

As a novel measure, MTC will also provide special bus services for six identified schools where students travel by maxicabs. The buses may have a different colour identification. While it was found that students paid Rs. 300 for maxi-cabs, they will pay Rs. 250 for the chartered trips. The number of buses will be divided by the number of students who will be picked up at various points and dropped at school.

The MTC also plans to convert its express and deluxe buses into ordinary ones during peak hours.

Following the success of yoga and meditation programmes in improving crew efficiency, the MTC will double its investment this year on similar programmes, say sources. Family members of crew will be included in Human Resources Development programmes. Special programmes will be held for alcoholics and young crew who are suffering from medical ailments invalidating them for driving work.

The MTC has already erected 1,200 glow sign shelters with the help of private sponsors and is planning to go in for 500 more. Orders will be immediately issued for requests to erect glow sign shelters conforming to the terms and conditions.

More `M'services

To counter mini-vans, the MTC will introduce more `M' services besides special buses for offices like the Reserve Bank of India, Secretariat, and other identified areas such as SRP-Tools in Taramani, Velachery, Saidapet, Tambaram, Chromepet, Nanganallur, Sholinganallur, Karanodai and Poonamalee.

Most of the existing fleet are significantly contributing to vehicular pollution, but all the 350 new buses will conform to Euro-II norms though it involves a cost component of over Rs. 70,000, say officials.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Leaders pay homage to Annadurai
Next     : What video can do in court