(A) Strengthening and Upgradation of Services Being Provided by the State Transport

CHAPTER 8

Transport

8.1 Socio-economic development in a modern society cannot be thought of without an efficient transport system. Smooth and safe movement of passengers and goods from one point to another in a least possible time are the basic object of an efficient transport system. The State Government has always kept this idea at the centre which formulating its transport policies towards social welfare. A three- pronged policy in this regard has been adopted in the transport sector. These are:

(A) Strengthening and upgradation of services being provided by the State Transport Undertakings.

(B) Controlling and guiding of the services being provided by the private sector.

(C) Strengthening of the infrastructure facilities.

8.2 Transport undertakings of the state play a pivotal role in the sphere of passenger transportation on road as well as on water transport sector through their state wide net works. There are five state transport undertakings viz., (a) Calcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC), (b) South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC), (c) North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC), (d) West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation Ltd. (WBSTC) and (e) The Calcutta Tramways Company (1978) Ltd. (CTC). Among these State Transport Undertakings, the West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation is providing services on water surfaces in addition to its bus services on roads.

8.3 The public transport sector is essential for providing transport services to areas covered by unremunerative routes, as these are avoided by private transport operators. The State Government has, therefore, been expanding and upgrading the State Transport Undertakings. Efforts have been made to improve the efficiency of these undertakings by improving operating standards and by strengthening the infrastructure of these undertakings with funds from different sources. Consequently, the State Transport Undertakings are adopting certain measures like:

(i) increasing the average number of buses/ trams on roads per day.

(ii) increasing the percentage of fleet utilization against the fleet strength.

(iii) reducing the staff-bus ratio.

(iv) renovation of buses.

(v) increasing KMPL rate.

(vi) utilization of unused or under-used land and spaces to increase revenue.

(vii) operation of services on franchise-basis.

8.4 The out-shedding of tram cars has been to some extent affected this year due to the on-going project of concretization and dereservation of tram tracks at various locations in Kolkata. The State Government is contemplating the aspect of changing the age-old tram cars both aesthetically and technically. Besides tram services, the CTC is also operating bus services in Kolkata and adjoining districts. During the year 2006-07 the company has purchased 70 new buses. The earning of the company has increased considerably during 2006-07 against that of the previous year.

8.5 The CSTC is gradually phasing out the over-aged buses from road and purchasing new buses to keep its fleet strength unreduced. The Corporation is concentrating more on city services.

8.6 The South Bengal State Transport Corporation maintains its operation through two divisions situated at Durgapur and Belghoria each having seven depots under its control.

8.7 The North Bengal State Transport Corporation with its headquarters located at Coochbehar is rendering services under four divisions viz., Coochbehar, Siliguri, Raiganj and Berhampore. There are 21 depots under this Corporation. With the aim of extending more facilities to the passengers, the Corporation has constructed central bus terminus at Coochbehar, Tenzing Norgey bus terminus at Siliguri and Mohonlal-Mirmadan bus terminus at Berhampore alongwith some other bus stands in North Bengal. Pension Scheme for the employees of the NBSTC has been implemented.

8.8 The performance of the State Transport Undertakings (STU) according to different efficiency indicators is shown in Table 8.1. The earnings of the STUs during 2005-06 are shown in Table 8.2.

Table 8.1

Performance Parameters of State Transport Undertakings of the

Government of West Bengal

Sl.
No. / Items / 2004-05
/ 2005-06
/ 2006-07
(Anticipated)

I

/ Calcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC)
1. No. of buses purchased during the year (fit for operation after body building) / 43 / 124 / 115
2. No. of serviceable buses at the end of the year / 1120 / 1152 / 1067
3. Utilisation:
a)  Total earning km. for the fleet (in lakh)
b)  Percentage of buses on road to the average fleet held
c)  Vehicle productivity:
i)  Km. per day per bus(on average fleet operated)
ii)  Km. per day per bus(on average fleet held)
4. Load factor (per cent)
5. Staff per Bus
i)  On average fleet operated
ii)  On average fleet held
6. Staff productivity (km. per worker per day)
7. No. of Depots / 559.76
63.13
217
137
56.86
11.11
6.68
19.51
11 / 518.09
57.60
215
124
56.93
11.54
6.65
19.00
11 / 535.50
59.00
217
128
60.00
10.96
6.46
20.00
11

II

/ North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC)
1. No. of buses purchased during the year (fit for operation after body building) / 100 / Nil / 130
2. No. of serviceable buses at the end of the year / 780 / 785 / 700
3. Utilisation:
a)  Total earning km. for the fleet (in lakh)
b)  Percentage of buses on road to the average fleet held
c)  Vehicle productivity:
i)  Km. per day per bus
(on average fleet operated)
ii) Km. per day per bus
(on average fleet held)
4. Load factor (per cent)
5. Staff per Bus
i)  On average fleet operated
ii) On average fleet held
6. Staff productivity (km. per worker per day)
7. No. of Depots / 375.86
53
243
129
69
12.92
6.83
18.85
21 / 370.15
49
246
121
59
12.66
6.23
19.44
21 / 400.00
57
249
141
60
11.59
6.58
21.49
21

III

/ South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC)
1. No. of buses purchased during the year (fit for operation after body building) / 50 / Nil / 100
2. No. of serviceable buses at the end of the year / 439 / 449 / 499
3. Utilisation:
a)  Total earning km. for the fleet (in lakh)
b)  Percentage of buses on road to the average fleet held
c)  Vehicle productivity:
i) Km. per day per bus(on average fleet operated)
ii) Km. per day per bus(on average fleet held)
4. Load factor (per cent)
5. Staff per Bus
i) On average fleet operated
ii) On average fleet held
6. Staff productivity (km. per worker per day)
7. No. of Depots / 362.45
73
309
208
55
8.22
5.41
37.66
14 / 376.58
68
314
212
55
8.53
5.77
36.74
14 / 422.82
73
320
216
60
7.68
5.19
41.62
14

IV

/ Calcutta Tramways Company (1978) Ltd. (CTC)
1. No. of vehicles purchased during the year (fit for operation after body building)
a)  Tram
b)  Bus / Nil
60 / Nil
Nil / Nil
70
2. No. of serviceable fleet at the end of the year
a)  Tram
b)  Bus / 250
300 / 250
327 / 250
341
3. Utilisation:
i)  Total revenue km. for the fleet (in lakh)
a)  Tram
b)  Bus
ii) Vehicles on road to the average fleet held
(percentage)
a)  Tram
b)  Bus
iii)Vehicle productivity:
1) Km. per car per day (on average fleet operated)
a)  Tram
b)  Bus
2) Km. per car per day (on average fleet held)
a)  Tram
b)  Bus
4. Load factor (per cent)
a)  Tram
b)  Bus
5. Staff per Bus/ Tram
i) On average fleet operated
a)  Tram
b)  Bus
ii) On average fleet held
a)  Tram
b)  Bus
6. Staff productivity (km. per worker per day)
a)  Tram
b)  Bus
7. No. of Depots:
a)  Tram
b)  Bus
c)  Common for Bus & Tram
d)  Total / 40.40
159.84
42
60
82
216
35
129
45.44
93.43
37
11.31
15.86
6.75
2.19
19.08
7
5
4
12 / 29.38
176.87
39
62
65
231
25
143
45.45
92.97
40
10.95
15.41
7.01
1.64
21.11
7
5
4
12 / 28.74
196.74
39
67
63
235
25
157
45.43
92.85
38
10.33
14.95
6.96
1.65
22.7
7
5
4
12

V

/ West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation Ltd. (WBSTC)
/ A. Water Transport Sector:
1. No. of vessels purchased during the year / Nil / Nil / Nil
2. No. of serviceable vessels held at the end of the year / 33 / 23 / 23
3. Utilisation (Percentage of average no. of vessels put on service to the average fleet held)
4. Load factor (per cent)
5. Staff per Vessel
i) On average fleet operated
ii) On average fleet held
6. No. of Jetties:
a)  Under direct control and maintenance
b)  Addl. Jetties services of which are being availed / 88.8
76
11.33
10
9
1 / 86
78
11.33
10
11
1 / 86
80
11.33
10
15
1
/ B. Road Transport Sector (introduced w.e.f. 31.03.92)
1. No. of buses purchased during the year (fit for operation
after body building) / Nil / Nil / 30
2. No. of serviceable buses at the end of the year / 74+20*+3** / 45+60*+3** / 75+95*+3**
3. Utilisation:
a)  Total revenue km. for the fleet (in lakh)
b)  Percentage of buses on road to the average fleet held
c)  Vehicle productivity:
i) Km. per bus per day (on average fleet operated)
ii) Km. per bus per day (on average fleet held)
4. Load factor (per cent)
5. Staff per Bus
i) On average fleet operated
ii) On average fleet held
6. Staff productivity
(km. per worker per day)
7. No. of Depots: / 22.00
33
244.00
83
70
17.80
6.01
13
2 / 17.00
44
233.00
65
75
20
9
10
2 / 20.00
50
236.00
70
80
15
5.9
12
2

* Buses are operated in Kolkata-Dhaka, Siliguri, Jaigaon, Jalpaiguri, Puri, Ranchi, Digha,

Asansol, etc. routes as joint venture under the WBSTC Ltd.

** Battery operated buses.

Source : Department of Transport, Govt. of West Bengal.

Table 8.2

Total Earnings of State Transport Undertakings of the

Government of West Bengal in 2005-06

Name of the STUs / Total Earnings
( Rs. in lakh )

NBSTC

/ 4549.65
SBSTC / 7367.79
CSTC / 7226.00
WBSTC ( Bus Service ) / N. A.

WBSTC (Launch Service )

/ N. A.
CTC ( Bus Service ) / 3725.00
CTC ( Tram Service )

N. A. = Not Available.

Source: Department of Transport, Govt. of West Bengal.

8.9 Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners (HRBC) under the administrative control of the Transport Department has been entrusted with maintenance of the Vidyasagar Setu alongwith its 16 km. length of viaducts and approach roads. The maintenance of the flyovers constructed under the Calcutta Transport Infrastructure Development Project (CTIDP) with the loan assistance of Japan Government has also been entrusted to HRBC. The improvement work of tram track in Kolkata which is being implemented by HRBC is progressing in full swing.

8.10 The work of bituminous pavement from Mominpur to Majerhat in Diamond Harbour Road has been completed and opened to traffic.

8.11 HRBC is also preparing detailed project reports for Exit Ramp at Beckbagan and Entry Ramp from Sarat Bose Road of AJC Bose Road flyover as well as an Exit Ramp to Mayo Road from Park Street flyover.

8.12 Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) has also actively taken part in implementing the schemes concerning to transport sector and the major works being completed during the current year are as follows:

a)  P.A. Shah Road connector.

b)  Widening of Canal East Road and Canal West Road.

c)  Strengthening of Salt Lake By-pass from Salt Lake entrance to right-turn flyover.

d)  Improvement of R.B. connector from R.B. Rotary to Eastern side of Bijon Setu.

e)  Improvement of Hooghly Station Road from G.T. Road to Shani Mandir.

f)  Twin Road from SIPRO to Picnic Garden under Kalyani Municipality.

g)  Widening and improvement of Kulia Road under Gayeshpur Municipality.

8.13 Works of improvement and strengthening of road surface of E.M. By-pass from Parama Island to Rubi Rotary, improvement of Adi Saptagram Road, widening of E.M. By-pass from Ultadanga to P. C. Rotary alongwith service roads, improvement of roads in Sector V, Salt Lake, improvement of Chandannagar Palpara Road, improvement of 11 different Pancyayat Roads within Howrah Zilla Parisad, widening and strengthening of Khardah Station Road etc., are in progress.

8.14 Some important new schemes have been initiated during the year which are as follows:

a)  Barrrackpore – Dum Dum Express Way (Ph. II)

b)  Extention of E. M. By-pass from Kamal Gaji to Baruipur (Ph.I)

c)  Face lifting work of Park Circus connector from P. C. Rotary to Bridge No. 4

d)  Illumination of Bondel Gate flyover and traffic signaling system, etc.

8.15 Expenditure incurred on account of Traffic and Transportation by KMDA during 2005-06 is shown below.

(Rs. in lakh)

KMDA Programme / Megacity / Others / Total Expenditure
Traffic and Transportation / 447.91 / 1165.93 / 1613.84

8.16 Department of Panchayat and Rural Development has also come forward in implementing the road related infrastructure support under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The objective of the programme is to provide connectivity through all weather roads to all rural habitations with population above 1000. However, upgradation of existing roads will be consider only when new connectivity has been completed.

8.17 Under the provision of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), 170 of road schemes sanctioned in Phase-I (2000-01) measuring a total length of 793.94 km. to connect 816 numbers of habitations were fully completed as on 31st March, 2006.

8.18 Again under the provision of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), 209 road schemes measuring a total length of 1093.40 km. out of 213 schemes sanctioned in Phase-II (2001-02) have been completed.

8.19 Again for the year 2003-04 in Phase-III, 367 new connectivity road schemes measuring 2029.59 km. in length were sanctioned out of which 266 road schemes measuring 1317.67 km. have already been completed.

8.20 Again in Phase-IV (2004-05), 149 of new connectivity schemes measuring 957.83 km. and 3 upgradation schemes measuring 17.7 km. were sanctioned. Besides, under ADB, 129 road schemes measuring 956.32 km. were also sanctioned. Works on these schemes are in progress.

8.21 As a whole, since inception till March, 2006, 3205 km. of roads have been completed providing connectivity to 2731 habitations.