GUWAHATI, Nov 23 � Nearly 400 new city buses will be introduced in Guwahati from next year under the Jawaharlal National Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM).
The giant size city buses run by the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) will make way for these small size city buses, an attempt initiated by the Regional Transport Authority headed by Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro) Dr M Angamuthu to streamline movement of city buses, which have emerged as a major source of traffic congestion in the capital city.
The big city buses will be phased out of the city, Dr Angamuthu told mediapersons today.
�It is often seen that the city buses do not operate on the specified routes and most often than not converge on the GS Road. We have now decided to bring down the number of specified routes for buses from 32 to just nine,� he informed.
Henceforth, new routes of Guwahati will also be connected by the buses.
The transport department will engage 100 traffic guides to monitor the movement of city buses across the capital city.
�It will be ensured that there is no movement of the buses other than on the route specified. Those violating the rule will have to face cancellation of permit. We have already cancelled permits of a number of errant vehicles,� Dr Angamuthu said.
As per the new traffic plan management, the number of bus stops will also be cut down keeping in view the greater interest of the commuters at large.
On school buses, the Deputy Commissioner said that a meeting with the school managements and other stakeholders is being planned and feasibility of steps like making school buses compulsory to ease traffic congestion before the next academic session will be discussed.
Senior Superintendent of Police (City) AP Tiwari said that a new integrated traffic monitoring system (control room) to monitor the movement of vehicles is on the verge of being introduced in Guwahati and once that comes up, it will be easier to set accountability on the part of bus operators.
