Previous regime leaves behind Rs 4k cr losses for transport department: Arjun Singh

With a deep fiscal scar left by the previous regime, the state transport department is exploring options to stay afloat and bring the financial accounts to positive at the earliest.

State-run buses in the city had reduced by several hundred in the recent few years. Presently, around 650 government-owned buses are being operated in the city of Kolkata while the demand is on the rise every passing day.

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As learnt from sources, the state transport department was reeling under huge losses in the previous government. As the new BJP took over the charge, one of the biggest and most crucial tasks before the new government is to recover from the huge losses that have been carried forward. “There are around Rs 4,000 crore worth of losses left by the previous government,” informed the state transport minister, Arjun Singh. “During the last government, buses could hardly be spotted on the city roads. Parts of vehicles were also sold during the last regime,” he added.

As elaborated by the transport minister, one of the biggest tasks before the new government is to stop the leakage of funds. According to sources, the newly-formed state government has also given Rs 1,250 crore for procuring fuel for the buses. To overcome the issue of fewer numbers of state-run buses on the city roads, the department has also bought 50 new buses, to be rolled out on different routes while the fleet is to be extended further in the next few months.

The minister has set three months time to streamline irregularities and fix issues of fewer government buses in the city. As learnt from sources, the department is also anticipating some oxygen from the upcoming state Budget which is to be announced on 22 June.