Surat City Bus

Surat City Bus
Parent Surat Municipal Corporation
Founded 2007 (2007)
Service area Surat, India
Service type Commuter bus
Daily ridership 80,000
Fuel type
  • Diesel
  • CNG

Surat City Bus is the name under which city buses are operated in Surat, Gujarat, India. It is operated by a private entity under a public private partnership model for the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).[1] The model is based on an earlier model by the Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) which operated bus services in Ahmedabad on a public-private partnership, but subsequently failed.[2] In 2012, the Government of Gujarat announced that it would set up similar transport facilities in 180 cities across the state under a public-private partnership.[3]

History

In 1997, the Surat Municipal Corporation had submitted a feasibility report to the Government of Gujarat, for privatisation of bus services in Surat city, as existing services being operated by the state-run Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) were found to be loss-making and insufficient for the city.[4] In 1999, the GSRTC inaugurated a new bus stand and office at Udhna for city and rural bus services in and around the city.[5]

Operations

In August 2007, the SMC entered into an agreement with a private entity to provide bus services for a period of five years. These buses were referred to as Redline buses and were fueled with Compressed natural gas (CNG).[6] In 2013, the SMC was unable to find a new operator, forcing it to extend the existing agreement by a few months. Subsequently, Redline services were suspended because the operator could not break even with the service.[1][7] This reportedly affected 80,000 commuters per day across the city.[8]

In July 2013, the SMC launched a new line of services labelled Blueline buses, operated by a different operator. These buses included air conditioned buses.[9] A total of 120 bus stops were constructed by the SMC prior to the Blueline buses being flagged off. The Blueline service is expected to run 125 buses for six years.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "No takers for Surat city bus service". The Indian Express. Surat. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 27 Jun 2014.
  2. ↑ Bhatt, Himansshu (26 October 2012). "Surat's public transport on verge of collapse". Times of India. Surat. Retrieved 28 Jun 2014.
  3. ↑ John, Paul (16 June 2012). "180 Gujarat cities to get private bus service". Times of India. Ahmedabad. Retrieved 28 Jun 2014.
  4. ↑ Rawat, Basant (21 August 1998). "Govt apathy hits bus project". The Indian Express. Surat. Retrieved 27 Jun 2014.
  5. ↑ "GSRTC bus office inaugurated". The Indian Express. Surat. 24 June 1999. Retrieved 27 Jun 2014.
  6. ↑ Thomas, Melvyn (21 August 2012). "Travelling in Surat's redline buses a harrowing experience". Times of India. Surat. Retrieved 27 Jun 2014.
  7. ↑ "Surat buses back on roads". Times of India. Surat. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 28 Jun 2014.
  8. ↑ Bhatt, Himansshu (10 May 2013). "No public transport for 45 days". Times of India. Surat. Retrieved 29 Jun 2014.
  9. ↑ Thomas, Melvyn Reggie (14 July 2013). "Hi-tech buses to ply on Surat from July 12". Times of India. Surat. Retrieved 27 Jun 2014.
  10. ↑ Bhatt, Himansshu (4 July 2013). "New bus service in Surat unlikely before August". Times of India. Surat. Retrieved 28 Jun 2014.
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