Bring innovations, new trends into JKRTC to make it profit-worthy public utility: Advisor Bhatnagar

Srinagar: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar wednesday chaired the 83rd Board of Directors (BoDs) meeting of Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) at Civil Secretariat here.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta; Commissioner Secretary, Transport Department, Hirdesh Kumar; Managing Director, JKRTC, Angrez Singh Rana; Director General Budget, Mohammad Yaqoub Itoo, Chief Engineer, Mechanical Engineering Department, representatives of Finance, PWD and other allied departments.
The BoDs discussed several issues of the corporation during the meeting besides detailed deliberations were held on the action taken report of decisions in earlier board meetings.
Advisor Bhatnagar, who is also the Chairman of BoDs, while addressing the meeting, emphasized upon the need for bringing innovations and new trends into the corporation so as to bring efficiency in the corporation and make it a profit-worthy public utility.
He called upon the officers to prepare a proper roadmap for the success of the corporation and asked the management to adopt a model which would be feasible in terms of generating revenue as well as establishing an effective transport system across Jammu and Kashmir.
Highlighting the need for initiating measures for improving the corporation, Advisor Bhatnagar delved upon the management of the corporation to devise a mechanism for performance evaluation of drivers and conductors to bring efficiency in the corporation.
The Advisor further asked the management for optimal utilisation and effective operationalisation of new fleet besides transport network models of other States should be explored for adopting efficient and economical transport system in J&K.
Speaking during the meeting, Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta stressed upon the officers to bring efficiency in corporation by incorporating several measures. He asked them to display timetable at all the bus stations regarding departure time of buses so that public doesn’t face any inconvenience while boarding the buses.
Dr. Mehta impressed upon the officers to manage the bus stations by utilising the services of Urban Local Bodies besides all the facilities of public convenience should be established at these places. He asked them to keep close monitoring on the performance of workshops of the corporation and all the assets of the corporation should be utilised efficiently to generate revenue for it
The Chief Secretary, while highlighting the need for bringing innovations in the corporation, directed the management to infuse latest technological interventions into the corporation for better public service delivery and develop a mobile application for booking of tickets with information of route plans and timetable at the earliest so that the people can book tickets with ease and are attracted towards the services of RTC.
Dr. Mehta further asked the management of corporation to start e-ticketing on all local buses with inter linkage of mobile application so that timely and efficient progress of corporation can be maintained.
During the meeting, the board decided to prepare a mechanism for monetization of assets of corporation as per the National Monetization Policy.
The board also decided to establish the e-ticketing system in the corporation as well as developing a mobile application for ticket booking and timetable information as well as route plans for the ease of commuters.
During the meeting, MD JKRTC gave a detailed presentation on the progress and achievements of the corporation. He informed the board that the corporation earned a revenue of Rs. 75.03 Crore during the year 2020-21 which includes Rs. 64.95 Crore as operational revenue and Rs. 10.08 Crore as non-operational revenue.
He also informed the meeting that 503 new vehicles have been purchased by the corporation which includes 277 trucks, 185 buses and 41 AC buses, which will be delivered in due time and will be operationalised for effective public transport system across J&K.