GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, along with Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, inaugurated 200 electric buses in Guwahati on January 1. While this move marks a positive step toward sustainable and eco-friendly transportation, the private bus owners in the region are left in a state of dilemma.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, a notice issued on December 22 outlined the removal of 200 private diesel city buses from Kamrup Metro. The notice detailed that the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) would operate 100 electric buses until January 18, and from January 19 onward, all 200 electric buses would be plying in the city.
The notice, which also included a list of 200 private city buses slated for removal, has triggered uncertainty and concerns among bus owners. Speaking to GPlus, a senior official from the MTAG Bus association expressed the collective worry, saying, "Now we do not have any idea what we are going to do about the diesel city buses. We bought these buses after 2015, and each bus costs around ₹30 - ₹40 lakh. Now they are removing all these buses. It’s not just us, many owners are in a state of confusion."
However, talking to GPlus, a senior official from the District Transport Office stated, "We might consider redirecting these buses to other routes. As of now, we do not have any concrete plan in place."
The uncertainty surrounding the fate of these diesel buses poses a challenge for private bus owners who made investments in these vehicles post 2015.
