Unused ASTC land to be used for commercial purpose

Assam government is evaluating options to utilise unused land of the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) for commercial purpose to earn revenue, the Assembly was informed today.
Replying to a query by AGP MLA Utpal Dutta, Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said over 86 bighas of land belonging to the Corporation are lying idle across the state.
"We have more than 754 bighas of land owned by ASTC, mostly prime land in the cities. Out of this, around 667 bighas are in use," the Minister said.
Officials were asked to evaluate the rest of the lands, if those can be used for building commercial properties, he added.

The government has asked the officials to start with the land in Guwahati, located at the prime Paltan Bazar area, Patowary said.
"We have also decided to build a new ISBT (inter-state bus terminus) at Tezpur. This will incur an expenditure of Rs 35 crore," he added.

When pointed out by BJP MLA Atul Bora, Patowary admitted that the Khanapara land of ASTC was encroached by people from Meghalaya but it has been reclaimed now.
The minister also informed the House that ASTC currently owns 1,158 buses and has with 1,762 permanent and 2,149 temporary employees.
Out of this, 272 buses are off-road now due to maintenance works, while 161 others units have expired their lifetime and the auction process for them has started, he added.

Stating that ASTC is running in loss, Patowary said the organisation received Rs 151.22 crore during 2014-15.