RSRTC plans to buy over 500 new buses

Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) is planning to increase over 500 new buses to its fleet by the end of this financial year. Thus, the RSRTC plans to increase its existing fleet of about 4,500 buses to 5,000. According to RSRTC officials, a sizeable number of the RSRTC's existing fleet of 4,500 buses are inter-state buses. Now, the roadways department plans to purchase around 550 new buses within this financial year. Confirming the RSRTC plan transport minister Brij Kishore Sharma said, "The new buses will have all category buses including AC, express and ordinary buses." This move of the transport department is aimed at keeping a check on the illegal transports in the state. Besides, the transport department is also reconditioning around 200 buses which have become old and need maintenance. These buses will ply within the 50 kilometre radius of a depot. "The reconditioned buses will connect rural areas up to 50 km of a depot area like Jaipur and Ajmer. This will offer rural area people a better option of transportation," the minister said.
But, since the transport department is facing financial crisis, its plans to increase the number of buses may fail. The department is running in to loses for the past one decade and it would need financial help from the state government. Each bus will cost around `15 lakh to `20 lakh and to purchase these buses, the transport department is planning approach various banks for taking loans. Besides, the department also plans to replace around 320 old buses with new ones in Jodhpur district. These buses will be Express buses and will connect Jodhpur with other districts of the state. The old buses will either be reconditioned or be dismantled.