Staff Reporter
Shillong:
Meghalaya Transport Minister Dasakhiat Lamare, on March 11, said that the Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) has not been able to generate enough revenue to meet its expenditure, including funds to clear salaries of its employees.
“It (MTC) is suffering from severe financial constraints,” said Lamare, replying to the cut motion moved by All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) legislator George B Lyngdoh, who raised concerns in regards to the pending salaries.
Lamare added that the Board of Directors, on October 24,2018, had decided to implement the recommendation of the Fifth Pay Commission effective from January 1, 2019.
“We are extensively examining the matter with the hope that we will be able to resolve the problem as soon as possible,” Lamare assured the Assembly.
Lamare further informed that the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) will be fully operational by April 1.
“The infrastructure is being used. There was a slight delay after the inauguration due to the lockdown,” the Lamare said, adding that there is a procedure to complete 95 per cent work before making the terminus operational.
He was replying to a question raised All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) legislator George B. Lyngdoh on the expected completion time of the ISBT.
“All the shops, restaurants, services that are supposed to be done are completed. Only the allotment is left. Hopefully, by the given date (April 1), it would be made operational,” the minister reiterated.
To this, Lyngdoh jested, “The choice of April 1 is comical. As we can all understand. The department will really know the significance of that date. I hope it does not go the other way.”
It may be mentioned that the ISBT at Mawlai, Mawiong was inaugurated in July 2021.
Lyngdoh also raise the issue of taxi drivers being “exorbitantly” penalised Rs 10,000 per vehicle for any delay in the renewal of permits. To this, the transport minister, in his reply, admitted that the said amount is “very high” and the issue will be looked into as a matter of urgency.