Shillong, June 13: The state will release 90 buses to be operated by private parties.
Briefing reporters on Friday, Cabinet Minister and spokesperson of MDA Paul Lyngdoh said the state cabinet has approved the Chief Minister’s Regional Connectivity Scheme 2025, aimed at enhancing connectivity by linking district headquarters with block and regional headquarters. The initiative will introduce a fleet of 90 buses to bridge the commute gap for students, office workers, and the general public.
“Under the scheme, financial support of up to 50% of the total vehicle cost will be provided. Of this, the government will contribute 35% towards the on-road cost as a down payment. Beneficiaries will contribute 5%, while the remaining 60% will be financed through loans repayable over a five-year period”, Lyngdoh said.
The emphasis will be to encourage entrepreneurs and one of the major priorities of the scheme is to ensure that these buses reach the district headquarters by 9.30 am and depart by 5.30 pm to cater to the demand from office goers, students, patients visiting hospitals and people travelling to markets,” he said.
The government has also identifed routes which will cover the various block headquarters, district headquarters and regional headquarters.
“This is a major initiative which we are confident will take care of the huge deficit that we have currently and to enhance regional mobility,” Lyngdoh said.
The minister said the scheme will encourage the use of bus services which will then have the effect on the overall impact of traffic congestions along the road.
Lyngdoh said, “Through the experience of MTC running those buses and they are becoming liabilities in record time, we now have learnt that it would be wise to encourage private entrepreneurship. They are better, more hardworking and their payment track record is far better.”
