Minister assures House of plans to plug transport revenue leaks

Kolkata: State transport minister Subhendu Adhikari Wednesday said the government is trying to reduce revenue leakage of state-run transport corporations.

His announcement came during the Question Hour in the House. “An Act will be introduced for the WBTC to plug in the leakage of revenues,” he said.

The WBTC was set up by the state government this year following the merger of three transport bodies — Calcutta State Transport Corporation, Calcutta Tramways Company and West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation.

Answering a question in the Assembly, Mr Adhikari said the revenue of the WBTC has increased by 12 per cent while the South Bengal State Transport Corporation has also seen a healthy increase in revenue during the last 5 years. During the time of the Left Front government, each transport department vehicle had 11 employees on an average which has now has been decreased to five.

“We are trying to decrease revenue leakage and our revenues are increasing. We are taking all possible steps,” the minister said, adding that the number of buses have increased to 2,600 in the state now.