AMC to resume city bus service from next month

Aurangabad, Sept 23:
The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) administrator
A K Pandey today hinted at resuming the Smart Bus service in city from the first week of October. A meeting to plan the operation of buses, the welfare of staff and other related issues will discuss in the meeting to be held with the guardian minister and the transport minister in Mumbai on September 29.

As reported earlier, the Smart Bus service in the city was halted since March. One week ago, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) had resumed the operations of its bus service. Hence, it was a curiosity amongst the citizens to know when will the Smart Bus service will start in the city.

Under the Smart City project, the AMC purchased buses by spending Rs 40 crore. MSRTC operates the buses, while the AMC recruited the drivers and conductors on a contract basis.

" The meeting to be held on September 29 will discuss on various issues including starting of bus service from the first week of October, but only 10 per cent buses will ply on roads in the first phase," said A K Pandey.

The meeting will also discuss on MSRTC''s request urging the AMC to waive-off the development charges, which is to be paid while obtaining permission for the construction of modern Central Bus Stand. The project worth crores of rupees need building permission from AMC. Meanwhile, the AMC direly needs one independent bus depot for Smart Bus service. Hence the civic administration will table a proposal that MSRTC should provide the depot to AMC at a minimal cost. I hope some important decisions will be taken at this meeting, stressed Pandey.