West Bengal Bus Operators Propose PPP Model to Mitigate Financial Losses

West Bengal's private bus operators have urged the state transport department to allow commercially obsolete 15-year-old buses to operate under a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model. They propose running state-owned buses against a monthly fee to avoid financial hardships caused by mandatory vehicle scrapping.

In a move to stave off financial losses, West Bengal's private bus operators have requested the state transport department to permit the use of 15-year-old buses under a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model. This initiative aims to allow aging buses slated for scrapping to continue running via state-owned vehicles for a monthly fee.

The Joint Council of Bus Syndicate's General Secretary Tapan Banerjee confirmed that the association had sent a formal appeal to Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty. This request comes amidst the phasing-out of older commercial vehicles, as per a Calcutta High Court order.

Currently, private operators running 14 state-owned buses on certain routes demonstrate the potential viability of this model. With 30 more operators showing interest, the initiative, if approved, could provide much-needed relief to the industry's economic woes.

(With inputs from agencies.)