The Aapli Bus service in city may cripple if the company halts its working
Nagpur: The city’s Aapli Bus service is likely to be crippled as after Scania, the DIMTS (Delhi Integrated Multi-modal Transit System Limited), the company authorised to streamline city bus operations by overseeing the working of all four city bus operators, has threatened to wind up its operations. In the ultimatum issued to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), the DIMTS has said that if its demands are not met fully by the civic body, it will cease its working from second week of next month. The main demand of DIMTS pertains to pending payment.
It may be recalled that the Scania Commercial Vehicles India Private Ltd, a major Swedish manufacturer of commercial vehicles, has stopped running the eco-friendly Green buses in city owing to mounting losses. Sources had said Scania’s 30 ethanol-run buses are parked on the city’s outskirts on Amravati Road for over two months. Scania was supposed to run 55 ethanol buses but has been operating only 25 for last one-and-a-half years.
The financial condition of cash-starved NMC has been deteriorating day by day. As of now, the civic body has to clear various payments amounting to over Rs 500 crore including its regular administrative expenses.
According to sources, the Director of DIMTS for Nagpur project, who generally camps in Delhi and draws salary of Rs 2 lakh for services to NMC, has reportedly handed over letters to Transport Committee Chairman and Transport Manager on Wednesday. Through the letters, the DIMTS has demanded clearance of pending dues at the earliest as well as waiver of penalty imposed on it. The DIMTS has warned that if the demands are not met, it will halt its operations from November 12 next. The company further said that the decision was taken in a meeting of Board of Directors of DIMTS.
Recently, the four operators of city bus service had gone on strike and paralysed the Aapli Bus service over pending dues. The NMC owes around Rs 50 crore to the four bus operators. It is mandatory for NMC to clear 30-40 percent of pending dues before Deepawali.
If the DIMTS halts its operations the bus service in city could collapse which ultimately will hit the commuters hard. The ceasing of Green Bus operations by Scania has already brought bad name to NMC in the country.
