GUWAHATI, April 7 - The Assam State Transport Corporation has registered a 20 per cent jump in gross revenue in two years time.
The gross revenue from bus operation jumped from Rs 708.86 lakh in December 2016 to Rs 851.3 lakh in December 2018.
Simultaneously, the loss per kilometre decreased from Rs 15.85 in December 2016 to Rs 11.12 in December 2018. During the same period, the fleet utilisation went up from 51 per cent to 64 per cent, while earnings per kilometre per bus increased from Rs 23.33 to Rs 36.55.
And these achievements have earned the corporation laurels at the 63rd conference of the Association of State Road Transport Undertakings.
The transport corporation of Assam was adjudged winners in three categories - ASRTU minimum operational cost award (without an element of tax) 2017-18, highest tyre performance award 2017-18, Hill Service and ASRTU award for North Eastern State Transport Undertakings 2017-18.
�A number of technology interventions have been brought about, revenue leakages plugged, expenditure optimised and non-fare revenue areas exploited during the last two years. Though it is a continuous process and just a beginning, we are seeing a slow transformation as is evident in the indicators,� ASTC managing director Anand Prakash Tiwari told
The Assam Tribune.
Among the technology interventions that are being implemented are Integrated Electronic Ticketing Solution (iETS), Live Tracking of Buses, Online Payment Mechanism and Command & Control Centre. E-ticketing has already started in Guwahati.
To further increase the revenue in 2019-20, the corporation has chalked out a road map which includes leasing out of unutilised ASTC assets in return for fixed payment, reduction in unaccounted ticket revenue, improving ridership and raising the number of fleet on road.
An understanding has been reached with ONGC for the operation of commercial vehicles to increase non-ticket revenues. It also plans to operate a bus washing plant on PPP mode.
Vacant and underutilised ASTC properties at prime commercial locations across the State are being leased out and they are expected to earn additional revenue of Rs 75.4 crore.
By leasing out rooftops for solar plants through PPP mode, the corporation plans to save Rs 0.5 crore in electricity expenditure and contribute towards sustainable development.
Also, agreements have been signed with two oil majors - HPCL and BPCL - for setting up petrol pumps and other allied services, which are expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2019.
ASTC and Assam Gas Company Limited (AGCL) have also signed an agreement for setting up CNG stations at ASTC locations across the State, depending on market potential. The first CNG station is ready for commissioning on Dibrugarh ASTC premises, with the final inspection from Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) being awaited.
�ASTC stations are being converted to multi-utility spaces which include services like ATMs, free wi-fi, Jan Aushadhi Kendra, commercial plaza with mini cinema hall, skill development centres for training drivers/auto mechanics, conductors, etc.,� added Tiwari.
