PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC) is planning to phase out old and unfit buses from its fleet and replace them with 100 new buses within three months. The move comes as part of a broader initiative to modernise the State’s public transport system and ensure safer, more reliable services for passengers, the UTC managing director Reena Joshi said. She informed that many of the existing buses, particularly models from 2016 to 2019, have deteriorated to the point where they are no longer fit for the roads. These buses will be systematically removed from operation and replaced with newly procured vehicles. Joshi further stated that chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has taken a personal interest in improving the condition of UTC’s services. “The corporation also previously purchased 130 new buses as per CM’s order. Building on that momentum, UTC is now in the process of acquiring an additional 100 buses to strengthen its fleet. The purchase is expected to be completed within the next two to three months,” she said. Addressing concerns regarding staff shortages, Joshi acknowledged that there is a shortage of drivers and conductors across the UTC bus services. She said that some conductors have recently been hired on an outsourced basis to temporarily fill the gap. However, she assured that the issue is being addressed and new staff recruitment will take place soon.
