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The Supreme Court has flagged in a judgment that State Transport Corporations (STCs) use “modern-era vehicles” on certain routes, but choose to ply buses on the verge of being phased out in some sectors. The court stated that official data showed one or two STCs were “thriving,” exhibiting impressive growth and embracing technology to enhance services and customer experience, comparable to those of public transport systems abroad. “Digitalisation has been a game-changer. Adapting to the changing transportation landscape, leveraging technology to improve services and customer experience is a priority for these corporations. Bookings are now made on online platforms, and live tracking is available on mobile apps. Measures have been taken to expand services and to streamline operations,” Justice Dipankar Datta, who authored the judgment for a Bench comprising Justice A.G. Masih, observed on November 4. The Supreme Court, however, noted that STCs were inconsistent with their service improvements, observing that “in certain areas/routes old buses which are on the verge of being phased out are being plied”. The court said that since the nation has indisputably made substantial progress in the road transport sector, “interests of passengers and commuters ought to be of prime concern for the transport authorities”. “India has developed, in this century, an intricate network of highways providing accessibility to nearby cities and towns from the remotest of villages, thereby establishing ‘last-mile connectivity’. Expressways have been constructed to facilitate faster movement of people and goods between distant locations and thereby reduce travel time,” Justice Datta pointed out. The court said the new and smooth-surfaced highways and expressways were transforming India’s transportation landscape. With the introduction of modern vehicles, operators of stage carriage services have been providing comfort and convenience comparable with public transport networks abroad. The court made these observations while holding that permission cannot be granted to private bus operators with permits, issued by the Madhya Pradesh State Transport Authority, to ply routes to neighbouring Uttar Pradesh which overlap notified intra-State routes. The court nevertheless said the States could open a dialogue in this regard in the future.
