Madhya Pradesh to Reinstate Public Transport After 20 Years
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Synopsis
On March 5, Madhya Pradesh announced the revival of its public transport system after two decades, focusing on rural communities. The state government is working on plans to restore transportation services to enhance connectivity and economic growth in underserved areas.
Key Takeaways
- Revival of public transport in Madhya Pradesh.
- Focus on benefiting rural communities.
- Previous government halted state transport services.
- Private operators limited to profitable routes.
- Plans for equitable access to transportation.
Bhopal, March 5 (NationPress) After almost twenty years, Madhya Pradesh is poised to reinstate its road transport system, with a focus on aiding rural populations.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led state administration, previously under the guidance of Chief Minister Babulal Gaur, had previously mandated the discontinuation of the State Road Transport Corporation, which provided bus services throughout the state.
This move was mainly due to the substantial financial deficits faced by the Corporation.
“A team of officials is diligently working on this matter, and updates will be presented in the upcoming Cabinet meeting,” a government representative informed IANS.
The previous government’s decision resulted in a considerable shortfall in the road transportation framework within the state.
Although private bus companies have emerged, the available routes are limited, leaving many villages and rural inhabitants without any public transport options.
The revival of the transport services, especially in rural locales, is anticipated to invigorate economic activities in tier-II towns and villages.
Furthermore, it will ensure critical connectivity to healthcare facilities and educational institutions, thereby enhancing access and opportunities for rural residents.
Currently, only the cities of Bhopal and Indore have urban bus services, while the majority of rural areas depend on private operators who typically serve only lucrative routes.
“This issue also touches on fairness, as those with lesser means also deserve the right to travel the state’s roadways just as much as those with cars,” the officials commented.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has already provided initial approval and instructed the relevant departments to create a viable model that will be formalized and submitted to the Cabinet for implementation.
In this initiative, the departments of Transport, Finance, Public Works (PWD), and Rural Development have been engaged in an extensive evaluation.
Besides Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh is unique in India, as these states lack a state-owned or state-sponsored public road transport system.
As per the official, three models are under consideration.
The first model involves the state government both owning and managing a transport corporation; the second model suggests that the state owns the buses and infrastructure while outsourcing operations.
The third and most likely scenario includes inviting private operators to provide services on less profitable routes through a Viability Gap Funding model, thereby ensuring coverage across all districts in the state.
