40 yrs after its birth, Gandhinagar to get an internal transportation service

Nearly four decades after it came into existence, Gandhinagar is all set to get its internal (sector-to-sector) transportation. The Government has given a green signal to the Local Notified Area authorities to invite bids from private bus operators in this regard.

K N Chavda, the Chief Officer of Gandhinagar Notified Area, told Newsline on Saturday: “The State Transport Department has given the approval to invite bids from private bus operators. We are in the process of drafting tenders that will be issued within a week’s time.”

A number of mini-luxury buses will now be hired on lease basis from private parties in this regard. The Gujarat State Road Transportation Corporation (GSRTC) has also issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) to the Transport Department for the introduction of private internal bus services in the Capital.

“As the government's approach is to encourage local bodies to introduce bus services in their respective towns on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, we have granted NOC for launching a similar project in Gandhinagar too,” said GSRTC Managing Director G R Aloria.

State Transport Commissioner S J Haider said his department will only play the role of a facilitator. The department will ensure that the fare tariff remains affordable and that the operators maintain the internal bus services on all routes across the Capital irrespective of the traffic volume, he said.

A proposal to introduce the internal private bus services in the Capital was mooted by the District Collectorate, which was later discussed at a recent high-level meeting chaired by State Transport Secretary H K Dash. After the deliberations, the department approved the proposal.

District Collector Sanjeev Kumar said: “We also propose to extend these services to as many as eight nucleus villages situated within a 10 km radius of Gandhinagar.”

The Gandhinagar Shaher Vasahat Mahamandal, an umbrella organisation of local NGOs, hailed the decision. He said decision will end a long wait for the two lakh residents of the Capital Township. “This will put an end to the monopoly of over 1,000 autorickshaw drivers who charge minimum fares of Rs 15-20 from passengers without operating their auto meters,” said Mahamandal president Arun Buch.

He said the private transportation services will also prove a boon to the 60,000 students studying in 125 secondary and 200 primary schools in the Capital.