Assam State Transport Corporation: Financial Performance of Pre- and Post-Revival Scheme
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
“Charging Rhino” is now the facemask of ASTC, which earlier was the “Standing Rhino”. This is not only the change in the ASTC mark, but also it shows the changes ASTC had undergone after introduction of “Revival Scheme” in year 2001-02. Change in the service of ASTC had been one of the greatest achievements of ASTC, which had changed the perception of public, regarding ASTC service. Government of Assam and Assam State Transport Corporation had jointly taken this initiative for the benefit of passengers. Now ASTC’s Rhino is giving challenges to private players, and getting the market.
Brief History Of Public Transport And ASTC.
The history of the public transport in India started with the independence of the nation. At the time of independence the nation was mainly a rural nation with remote far-flung villages and mostly poor citizens without any modern transportation facilities. At that time it was not possible for the private sector to provide transportation to the people. So the planners came out to provide rail and road transportation through the public sector as transportation is considered as the gateway of development. The government of all states started their bus transport system to connect the villages with their political and commercial hubs. Assam Government for the same purpose started with only four buses to run between Guwahati and Nagaon in 1948.
To enable the services to run more efficiently, Government of India introduced an act called State Transport Corporation Act, by which these organizations are allowed to run with autonomous power. Following the footsteps of other states, the Assam State transport department was converted to Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) on 30th March 1970. The Corporation started with a satisfactory service to the people winning public goodwill till today. But due to inherent public sector weakness and other constraints the corporation slowly fell down economically and failed to
INTRODUCTION
“Charging Rhino” is now the facemask of ASTC, which earlier was the “Standing Rhino”. This is not only the change in the ASTC mark, but also it shows the changes ASTC had undergone after introduction of “Revival Scheme” in year 2001-02. Change in the service of ASTC had been one of the greatest achievements of ASTC, which had changed the perception of public, regarding ASTC service. Government of Assam and Assam State Transport Corporation had jointly taken this initiative for the benefit of passengers. Now ASTC’s Rhino is giving challenges to private players, and getting the market.
Brief History Of Public Transport And ASTC.
The history of the public transport in India started with the independence of the nation. At the time of independence the nation was mainly a rural nation with remote far-flung villages and mostly poor citizens without any modern transportation facilities. At that time it was not possible for the private sector to provide transportation to the people. So the planners came out to provide rail and road transportation through the public sector as transportation is considered as the gateway of development. The government of all states started their bus transport system to connect the villages with their political and commercial hubs. Assam Government for the same purpose started with only four buses to run between Guwahati and Nagaon in 1948.
To enable the services to run more efficiently, Government of India introduced an act called State Transport Corporation Act, by which these organizations are allowed to run with autonomous power. Following the footsteps of other states, the Assam State transport department was converted to Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) on 30th March 1970. The Corporation started with a satisfactory service to the people winning public goodwill till today. But due to inherent public sector weakness and other constraints the corporation slowly fell down economically and failed to