New transport corporation will provide better services: Suvendu

The recently-formed Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) will deliver ‘heartening’ service to the commuters through its various activities, said state Transport minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday at a programme.

The new corporation has come up with 105 buses. Air-conditioned (AC) deluxe buses and non-AC buses are included in their list of vehicles, which will enthrall the city-based commuters. “The vehicles in corporation are sophisticated and will give a refreshing feel to commuters. Encouraged by the Chief Minister’s vision we have taken various projects for passengers amenities,” said Adhikari.

Three previous transport corporations were integrated to form the new board, which is known as West Bengal Transport Corporation.  The integrated board – formed by merging Calcutta State Transport Corporation, Calcutta Tramways Company and West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation – was constituted to ensure constructive transport facility.

The measure was also taken to ensure that the loss incurred by the corporations could be reduced.

The decision of integration of the three crucial transport corporations was taken on June 8 this year.       

Based on studies by World Bank, WBTC took the decision to rationalise some routes which were unnecessary and/or causing heavy loss. “Not just road transport, even the water transport will have a new edge with the constructive efforts of WBTC. With assistance from World Bank, the state transport department will take up renovation work of 60 ghats between Babu Ghat and Farakka . This work will be done by WBTC,” the minister added.

Urban water transport facilities, such as vessels, launch boats and ferry system will also be started 

under this project.

Regarding questions about the formation of the integrated board from the three previous transport corporations, officers of the state transport department have reasoned that the purpose is to cut down expenditure.

“The integration of those regional transport corporations under the same umbrella will ensure that common people continue getting better transport facilities and at the same time the expenditure also comes down,” said an officer.

The state government also took measures to make sure that none of the employees of the previous corporations were adversely affected due to formation of the integrated board.

In fact, the state government is firm on its decision that in case there is excess manpower in any of the corporations, the concerned employees would be transferred to some other departments of the state government.