Big crisis: MCTCL in loss of four crores, tires worn and volvo buses parked in depot A to Z Counsel

In Meerut, on the one hand more than 20 thousand e-rickshaws are running unbridled on the roads of the city, while on the other hand Meerut City Transport Services Limited (MCTCL) is in loss of about four crores. The condition is that after tire wear, three Volvo buses have been parked at Sohrab Gate depot.

MCTCL started operating city buses in the year 2010. The company has 30 electric buses, 80 CNG and eight Volvo buses in the city. The operation of 29 electric buses in the city started on January 4, 2022. First five buses were found and then five buses each in February and March. In total, there were 30 electric buses in April. Soon 20 more buses are to be found. Within seven months, Rs 7.35 crore was spent in operating these buses, while the income was Rs 3.67 crore.

Loss of Rs 35 per kilometer
On an average, Rs 70 per kilometer is spent on operating electric buses, while the income is only Rs 35. Thirty electric buses cover a distance of about 5000 km per day. This gives Rs 1.75 lakh per day, while the expenditure goes up to 3.50 lakh.

There is also a loss in the operation of CNG buses
MCTCL has incurred a loss of 26.08 lakh in October itself in operating 80 CNG buses. CNG buses ran a total of six lakh km in October. The department had to spend Rs 17 per kilometer on driver and maintenance.

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How are e-rickshaw drivers earning profits?

Seven thousand e-rickshaws plying on the city roads are registered in the RTO. In fact, their number is said to be around 20 thousand. The question is that MCTCL is in loss and the number of e-rickshaws is increasing continuously.

electric bus fare

0 to 3 kms – Rs 10
3 to 6 kms- Rs 15
6 to 10 kms – Rs 20
10 to 14 kms – Rs 25
14 to 19 kms- Rs 30
19 to 24 kms- Rs 35
24 to 30 kms- Rs 40
30 to 36 kms- Rs 45
36 to 42 kms – Rs 50

How many electric buses on which route?
Mawana – 15
Sardhana – 9
City Station – 3
Fort – 1
Cali – 1

CNG buses running on these routes

About 80 buses are operating in the city on Sivaya-Modinagar, Hapur Adda-Kithore, Bhaisali-Sardhana, Radhagovind Engineering College-Sivaya, Bhaisali-Karnwal, Bhaisali-Harra Khiwai and Siwalkhas, Khanpur, Satwai routes.

Operation in public interest despite losses
There is a lot of loss in the operation of buses under Meerut City Transport. These buses are operated keeping in mind the convenience of the people. There are losses on many routes, but operations are carried out despite the shortage of passengers. – Mukesh Agarwal, ARM Finance, Transport Corporation Meerut

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Roadways buses will also run from Satwai, Sardhana and Ratanpuri
Soon, roadways buses will also start operating from Satwai, Sardhana and Ratanpuri. For this, the Transport Corporation has started the process of contracting. Regional Manager KK Sharma said that now buses will be contracted for a distance of 150 km from the Transport Corporation. Earlier, buses were contracted only for 60 kms. The department is going to contract for 24 CNG buses, which will be operated on five routes. In these, the bus will go from Satwai to Bhola, Ghaziabad via Meerut. In the second route, buses will operate from Sardhana to Daurala, Kaushambi and Ghaziabad via Meerut. Buses will be operated from Ratanpuri to Sardhana via Meerut to Khurja. The people of the countryside will get a lot of benefit from operating these buses. Keeping in mind the increasing pollution, all the buses will be taken CNG only. For this the tender has been floated by the Transport Corporation.