2 weeks Ago
Chennai: Tamil Nadu govt has decided to hire private buses to manage the extra rush of passengers during weekends and festivals. These buses will be operated in Chennai and ten nearby districts. They will be driven by private drivers.
The decision aims at addressing the growing demand for govt buses during peak travel times like extended holidays, transport minister SS Sivashankar told TOI on Wednesday. The minister said around 1.5 lakh people travelled on govt buses during the 2021 elections while nearly two lakh people used them during the last general elections.
Currently, the practice of deploying existing govt buses as special buses causes delays when they take time to return to Chennai or reach their destinations. To avoid such disruptions, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation ( TNSTC ) Villupuram division plans to utilise private buses during high-demand times. A tender for this plan will be finalised on Thursday, Sept 19.
"The move to hire private buses, instead of purchasing new ones, is a cost-saving measure, considering that these buses would only be in use for 10 to 15 days a year," the minister said. "This approach helps cut costs compared to buying new buses that are only occasionally needed," he added However, the exact payment model for the private buses has not been decided though TNSTC officials suggested that it might be on a per-kilometre basis. Around 1,180 drivers and conductors are expected to be involved in operating both private and govt buses.
There will be no change in fares, and private buses will carry the TNSTC logo on them to avoid confusion among passengers. Despite the intended benefits of reducing delays and improving the commuting experience, transport workers' unions have opposed the move, labelling it as an attempt at privatisation under a gross cost contract. Union protests have already been organised against similar efforts by Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) in Chennai when it sought to purchase 500 electric buses.
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