J&K SRTC's downward slide continues, Rs 31.34 Cr lost in 2016-17, up by 130%
TNN Bureau. Updated: 1/22/2018 1:59:34 AM
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BIVEK MATHUR
JAMMU: Despite several efforts being made to revive its relevance and making it profitable, the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) has suffered whopping Rs 31.44 crore losses during the year 2016-17 to run its vehicles on the state roads, around 130% more than the preceding year.
The losses of the Corporation, pegged at Rs 13.73 crore in the year 2015-16, have increased massively by Rs 17.71 Crore in the year 2016-17.
It may be mentioned here that the downward slide in the revenue of the corporation is not any new phenomenon. In the year 2014-15, the SRTC had suffered Rs 21.65 crore losses compared to Rs 37.40 crore in the year 2013-14 and Rs 16.97 crore losses in the year 2012-13 respectively.
The government however claimed that to revive the SRTC, it has undertaken several measures.
The Minister of State, Transport (Independent Charge), Sunil Sharma in reply to a cut motion of a legislator said that proposals are underway for replacement/augmentation of buses. He said that the SRTC has initiated the process of establishing commercial retail fuel outlets at 12 places which shall be commissioned within this year.
On addressing the serious issue of congestion, the minister said that SRTC has taken up project of 38 electric vehicles with the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India against which 15 vehicles have been agreed in the first instance which shall be introduced shortly.
Under Smart City Project, he said, SRTC has projected a demand of 140 electric buses for the operations in the twin cities of Srinagar and Jammu.
The Minister further said that SRTC has already issued the supply order for 32 buses and 63 trucks which shall be operational in the current year.
"Moreover, the order for 29 more buses is in pipeline. SRTC is going to introduce Intelligent Transport Management System for effective management of its operations," the Minister said, adding, "Modern bus ports with state of art facilities have also been proposed to be undertaken for upgrading the facilities to the commuters."
Under Nirbhay Scheme, he said the Government of India has agreed for allocating funds for the purchase of 186 buses.
Counting other measures to revive the Corporation, the Minister said that SRTC has also started the process of digitisation of records and pay roll management system along with vehicle health management system in the state.