Take-over by State Starts in Calcutta
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I-1 A FIVE-YEAR plan of the West
Bengal Government to nationalize all bus services in Calcutta is to be started this month, Dr. B. C. Roy, Chief Minister, has told the State Assembly.
Under the plan, which will affect 322 private concerns, the remaining private buses will be replaced in stages by State-owned vehicles. No further operating permits will be granted to companies.
Private operators will not he compensated, as their vehicles will be replaced on the expiry of their permits.
Although road transport could Mot be given priority over other key industries, the Government of Madhya Pradesh are resolved to nationalize it completely, Pandit R. S. Shukla, Chief Minister, has told the Assembly.
The Government, he said, were forming "viable units" by integrating private operators on a co-operative basis to increase efficiency. Such units were operating in Raipur and Bilaspur. The Government of Punjab will take over 42 bus routes in Jullundur, Amritsar and Ambala in pursuance of their nationalization policy, resulting in an annual income of Rs. 9.4m.. corn pared with an expenditure of Rs. 8.2m.
Existing operators will be provided with alternative routes. Services will be introduced in the countryside to link villages with a population of 1.000 and more with market centres.
50,000 FLY TO ISLAND
Q1NCE Ribble Motor Services. Ltd., I.-1 and the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation began a joint service from the mainland to the Isle of Man four years ago, 50,000 passengers have travelled from mainland towns to the island. A further increase in coach-air traffic is expected in the coming holiday
season. Talks were held last week between representatives of bus operators and Manx authorities.
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