In order to reduce losses in state buses, the Bengal government has come up with an innovative plan according to which bus conductors of a state bus, would be required to ensure occupancy of at least 60% for a round trip of the bus. That means in case of a 50 seat bus, the conductors will have to deposit average ticket value of 30 passengers after a trip from the terminus to back.
The state government have been incurring losses of Rs.400 crores per year for about 2000 state run buses employing some 26000 heads with an average of 9 employee per bus compared to 6 employee per bus in private buses. The state has five transport corporations in the public sector.
Announcing this decision in the floor of the assembly, the transport minister Subhas Chakraborty said that the government has decided to deploy 7 members per bus instead of 9 at present. The congress member Manas Bhuinyan suggested that, if possible it should be made 6 as is the norm in other metros like Delhi.
The minister admitted that out of the five transport corporations, losses are on the rise for Calcutta State Transport Corporation, the West Bengal State Transport Corporation and the South Bengal State Transport Corporation and are declining in the Calcutta Tramways Company (bus section) and North Bengal State Transport Corporation.
This measure has been taken following allegation that state run bus conductors do not bother for passengers and do not take care of ensuring tickets from all passengers. The measure should result in reduction in losses by Rs.200 crores per annum the minister said.