Issues related to upkeep of buses under JNNURM persist: Govt

"Upkeep of buses, yes, there are issues. Because the JNNURM has mandated that there should Special Purpose Vehicle created for running the buses funded under the programme. In some states this was not followed meticulously as a result maintenance was not given due attention," Urban Development secretary Sudhir Krishna said.

He was responding to a reporter's question about the funding of buses under JNNURM.

"This is the first ever programme where Government of India funded city buses. So being the first there were issues as people did not expect it to come soon after the announcement," he said.

The Urban Development secretary said Faridabad authorities could not recruit drivers for over a year and the buses were lying idle in the depots.

"In Kolkata, they did not form the SPV and buses were given to individual drivers for owners and they did not have the Depots, they did not have the servicing system. Buses were standing on the roads for parking and repaired by roadside garage," Krishna said.

"But this is a learning process and we are learning from this and we have advised the states," he added. Krishna said that the Ministry of Urban Development was planning to include mini buses under JNNURM also.

Another senior official said the ministry was also looking at suggestions received from states about the design of the buses. He said the plan was to provide Metro-like atmosphere in the buses.