MP govt sets up transport companies

Under the Company Act, Madhya Pradesh government set up transport companies at Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Ujjain in order to augment public transport facilities in cities. These companies have been asked to in order to strengthen public transport facilities in these cities by the State Urban Administration and Development (UAD) department. The state government would procure 609 buses costing Rs 154.83 crore for public transport in these cities under the central government-sponsored JNNURM. Of these, 277 buses have been purchased. At Bhopal and Indore, the state government is implementing pilot project of Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) at a cost of Rs 236 crore and Rs 93.45 crore under JNNURM. Low-floor buses are being operated at Indore, Bhopal and Ujjain. For better public transport facility, radio taxio facility has also been started at Indore and Bhopal. In order to implement these projects, the state government also set up a state-level Integrated Urban Transport Council (S-UMTC). Pre-feasibility survey has been conducted by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for metro trains at these cities. Inspection report and DPR are being prepared by the company selected through global tender for this purpose. The Union urban development ministry has agreed in-principle for this.