Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh would soon introduce new public transport system in the state passing on the entire operation of buses on state highways into the hands of private operators, Madhya Pradesh Transport Minister Himmat Kothari said Monday.

Talking to newsmen, Kothari said in a bid to improve the public transport system, the government has taken several steps, including de-nationalization of 171 roads in the state, to improve the public transport on the state.

In February 2005, the state government had decided, in principle, to wind up the Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (MPRTC) and had de-nationalized 510 out of 681 routes.

"Now with de-nationalization of the remaining 171 routes, private operators will be able to ply on all state highways and the people in the state would be able to have better access to public transport," he claimed.

"To attract private operators on routes connecting the interiors of the state, the government has decided do away with the uniform taxation system, replacing it with a three-tier system and to charge a minimum from the operators on routes in the rural areas," Kothari said.

The above step is likely to attract 3,000 more buses on rural routes and give employment to nearly 15,000 people, he claimed.

The government will, however, have control on the fares to be charged by the operators. "The fares for different places would be fixed by the government and it would be ensured that no operator charges exorbitantly from the passengers," Kothari said.

 

Source : IANS