State Road Transport Corporation, briefly called SRTC, has never been able to fulfill its agenda of providing cheap and assured connectivity to the people particularly those living in far off corners of the State. This organization has become a victim of much interference, mismanagement and lack of discipline and sense of responsibility. People believe it has not been able to deliver goods and left more problems behind. Efficient transport is essentially responsible for bringing about healthy socio-economic change in a society. But we do not find any material progress in this sector achieved through the instrumentality of the SRTC. Speaking about the performance of his department, the Minister for Transport said in the Legislative Assembly that the Transport Department has two major constituents, State Road Transport Corporation and Motor Vehicles Department. While the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) is required to deal with the multi-dimensional aspects of the road transport including enforcement of rules, the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) is required to provide regular, adequate, economical and coordinated services to the general public. It has been running on deficit. During 2015-16 financial year the revenue of SRTC was Rs 100.10 crore while as its expenditure was Rs 113.84 crore. Similarly, during 2016-17, the revenue of the Corporation was Rs 98.29 crore while as its expenditure was Rs 129.73 crore.
The SRTC has 750 operational vehicles against the total fleet of 847 and in majority of the rural areas of the State it has negligible presence. Erstwhile Doda district is a victim of negligible presence of SRTC fleet. A total 34 SRTC buses were provided to the erstwhile Doda district in the year 2009. Of these, 15 were provided in Doda, 12 in Kishtwar and 7 in Ramban. Out of these 34 buses, two belonging to Ramban district were auctioned reducing the fleet of Doda Depot to 32 vehicles. As on date, out of 32 vehicles, 14 are in the workshop for repair. This talks eloquently about the shortage of SRTC buses on Doda district roads. The Transport Department has failed to open the driving school as was announced previously and has thus added to is disrepute. In the light of this situation, it is necessary that the Government sets departmental committee to suggest broad reforms in the SRTC.
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