The Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) is planning to introduce 678 buses in order to increase the number of public transportation facilities in the state.
Speaking to the media, ASTC chairman Ashok Bhattarai said that the organization has planned to introduce more buses in the state as there was a large demand for cheap public transportation facilities for the masses.
He also said that the buses will be introduced under the Uberization Scheme of ASTC.
“Under this scheme, interested candidates who may be individuals, small business enterprise or self-help groups (SHGs), can apply in Uberization for putting their buses on routes to be operated under the ASTC,” Bhattarai added.
He also said that the beneficiaries will get 25 per cent subsidy – 15 per cent of which is refundable in the form of interest-free loan to be repaid over a period of five years and 10 per cent is non-refundable.
According to the scheme, an applicant has to pay Rs 1,000 as application fee and he or she cannot apply for more than five routes.
The last date for submission of applications is February 29.
It may be mentioned that ASTC had introduced 15 electric buses in Guwahati in November last year.
The new buses were procured under ‘Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles’ (FAME-1).