Government to auction red buses in Shillong

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG, April 26: The state government is going to auction as many as 38 buses which were procured by the Government under the Jawaharlal Nehru tiol Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) five years back.
The government procured 120 buses of which 38 buses in Shillong will meet their fate due to lack of execution of the parameters pertaining to the maintence and running in the numerous streets of Shillong. These buses were launched by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on July 22; 2011. The fleet of these was further upgraded through the funds obtained under 13th Fince Commission. Besides the suspension of their services in numerous routes due to economic in viability, the sore point is the condemtion of the 38 buses on the ground that “they are beyond repair”. State Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh during a telephonic interview with The Sentinel confirmed that the buses, which are beyond repair, will be auctioned. However, she ruled out her department’s involvement in execution of the criteria to the allotted private operators of these buses in the city. There is a committee headed by the Chief Secretary that looks after these buses, she stated. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, when brought to the notice by this correspondent stated, “I have learn about this and a review meeting will be scheduled.” “ The problem is that the private operators allotted to run these buses does not have to bear the risk aspect of running which we will put forth from now”, the Chief Minister stated. “Such practices at the cost of the exchequer and public will have to be rectified”.
Interestingly, no one really goes for an inspection on the functioning of these buses.