Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS)

[CivilEngineer079]

Its strange that we don't have a thread on this topic. AMTS is the lifeline of Ahmedabad City so it needs a special thread to discuss & for its updates. I request all the users to share information related to AMTS (apnu udan khatolu) on this thread.

[CivilEngineer079]

History of AMTS

There is continuous hike in population vis-à-vis the industrial development. The walled area of the city experience congestion of population and with that the jurisdiction of municipality also expanded. The housing societies and colonies had been started in the surrounding areas in order to reduce the density somewhere in 1940. Leading citizens, lawyers, labour leaders, industrialists and traders were elected as municipal members in those days. Shri Manibhai Chaturbhai Shah was the municipal President. Dr. A.N.Tankaria was the Vice-President and Shri Navinchandra Desai was standing committee Chairman. Moreover Shri Nandlal Bodiwala, Shri Arjunlal Bhogilal Lala, Shri Dolatram Umedram Shah and Shri Dadubhai Amin were among municipality members. They were concerned about the welfare of the citizens and the ideals of the social workers in that generation were very high with warm feelings for the society. They were vigilant for the well-being of the city. The very first resolution was passed by the municipality on 10th June 1940 in the General Board meeting (to begin transport services vide Resolution No. 476 dated 10-6-40). This task was put on the board by the standing committee (vide committee Resolution No. 878 dated 4-6-1940)

According to the said resolution, it was decided to form a special committee vide Section No.38 of municipal Burro Act. The jurisdiction of the committee was to get the sanction of state government to acquire loan amount necessary for the bus project, and to map out various bus-routes in different areas of the city. Main purpose of the transport service was to avoid the population density in city area and thereby to provide affordable means of transportation facility for the citizens staying far from the main city area. The profit motive was not there at all at any stage. The decision was to start transport facility first in the municipal boundary. For that purpose they had to contact Provincial Motor-transport Controller and Regional Transport Authority in Gujarat in order to obtain necessary licence valid upto 31-3-1941. The committee was comprised of 7 members including Shri Arjunlala, Shri Nandlal Bodiwala, Shri Navinchandra Desai, and Shri Dadubhai Amin.

The committee formed in June 1940 presented its plan to the General Board on 21st August, 1940 vide Resolution No.1161 dtd.21-8-40. The Board resolved in addition that the plan should be sanctioned by R.T.A. and it should permit to manage the bus-routes mentioned in the resolution for five years. If the R.T.A. proposes to increase number of Bus-routes, or if the municipality thinks so by its experience, more routes will be added. Other areas such as Naroda , Vasana, Sabarmati Hansol etc. also will be provided with the service if the need arises, and due approvals will be obtained from Commissioner of Northern region as per municipal Burro Act. If the municipality does not get such approval, and some other organisation obtains the same, RTA must clarify that such organisation will not allow the passengers within municipal limit to use the facility of transport.

The President of the committee was authorised to make any alterations in the plan if required. Municipal Chief officer was empowered to apply for the stage carriage permit and to pay the fees, expenses etc. for that purpose. The President was also empowered to make necessary arrangements for the public loan amount to Rs.14,00,000 with the rate of interest at 4%.

In Oct.1940, as per General Board Resolution No.1640 dtd.24-10-1940, the committee was authorised to purchase buses from the licenced manufacturers at the market-price suggested by arbitrator, and municipal corporators were duly given power to take necessary steps in this aspect.

No conerete steps seem to have been taken till 1946, after the above sanctions in the subject of starting municipal transport service. Probably some difficulties might have been raised from the licenced manufacturers or the delay in Government decisions against the execution of this plan.

Thereafter this topic was discussed many times, and in November 1949, the old plan prepared by the Bus-Committee was passed (with Resolution No.800 dtd.16-11-46). It was suggested that the plan should be proposed properly to the Transport Minister of Mumbai State through the President who can forward it and discuss it systematically. The Board also approved to collect a loan amt. Rs. 25 lacs as a cost of transport project. The proposal was put forth by the first president Dr. A.N.Tankaria who was also appointed later as a chairman of bus-committee, the proposal was supported by Shri Ram Prasad Contractor. Moreover the decision was taken to obtain monopoly in the subject of plying the buses within the municipal areas as well as in Sabarmati, Vasana, Naroda, Odhav and Sadar Bazaar. It was also decided to get approval from Government of Mumbai to float a long term loan for 30 years at 3% interest rate in Feb/March 1947 for this project. There was a firm decision this time to start the transport service, and the committee got a wider authority, so that they can make their best effort enthusiastically to complete it. They constantly contacted government officers, ministers and influential people. Public opinion was developed in favour of starting the public-bus, therefore the government was impelled to take a quick decision. Bus-fare was kept as 1 (one) Anna minimum and 3 Annas maximum and the fact was informed to R.T.A. office through the chief officer.

During this time resolution No-275 dtd. 23-5-46 was passed to take expert services of Shri G.L. Sheth (ICS) in the municipality. He has played a great role to initiate bus-services. He also helped in taking quick administrative decisions, and guiding in routine jobs to the committee. His enthusiasm and talent were very much helpful to start the services.

Resolution No.358 dtd. 4-6-46 was passed in response of the proposal made by Shri Arjun Lal, and it was bifurcated in two parts :

(1) People should be convinced to build residential units on the open plots situated outside the city, to reduce the population density. However this was difficult in the absence of proper transport facility, therefore the Board resolved that monopoly right should be vested with the municipality to ply petrol or diesel buses and electric trolley service. The Board also requested Mumbai Government to make changes in the present laws if the need arises.

(2) The Board also resolved to rethink the 1940 plan or to fabricate all new plan, keeping in view the growing population, and form a new committee, that can invite the experts for their advice, and necessary expenses should be made for the project.

[aks_sky]

Originally Posted by CivilEngineer079

Its strange that we don't have a thread on this topic. AMTS is the lifeline of Ahmedabad City so it needs a special thread to discuss & for its updates. I request all the users to share information related to AMTS (apnu udan khatolu) on this thread.

Yeah i never thought of that either! good job man.

[aks_sky]

slightly old news

AMTS proposes to have 1,100 buses

AHMEDABAD: The Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Services (AMTS) is going in for a makeover. No more a city bus service, the AMTS is being groomed to play a larger role - feeder bus service for the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) and also a means to encourage more passengers to choose public transport over personal vehicles.

The AMTS, in its budget for 2012-13, has proposed to have a huge fleet of 1,100 buses. All these buses will be devoted solely to upgrade public transportation on city roads. Currently, the AMTS has 700 buses on road that ply daily on 167 routes.

Announcing the rather ambitious budget, Amit Shah, the chairman of AMTS, said that more significance will be given to feeder buses for BRTS. "The BRTS is now spreading its wing to reach out to all parts of the city. Soon more routes will be added to the existing BRTS corridor. To play an able supporting role, AMTS will require more buses to bring passengers to the BRTS," said an AMTS official.

Shah said that the AMC has initiated a proposal to buy 1,000 new buses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Rural Mission (JNNURM). Of these 300 buses will be given to the AMTS as feeder buses. "The AMTS gets 9 lakh passengers and earns Rs 24 lakh daily. With the new feeder buses, the AMTS is expected to earn an additional income of Rs 14 crore," he said.

Shah added that the AMTS conductors will be given new hand-held computerised ticketing machines. Instead of traditional paper tickets, the conductors will now give printed tickets.

Also to cut on the losses, the AMTS has decided to have four more depots in various parts of the city. "With the city growing beyond its boundaries, the need of the hour is to optimise manpower and save fuel. More depots will ensure better management of city buses and cut down the losses," said an official.

AMTS officials said that against its total budget of Rs 437.62 crore, the AMTS has proposed an income of Rs 250 crore and another Rs 11.62 crore as grants under the Swarnim Jayanti Chief Minister Development project. "This will mean a shortfall of Rs 176 crore. This we hope to off-set with a loan from our parent body - AMC," said an AMTS official.

[aks_sky]

AMTS feeder bus service.



These buses will also replace some old buses on some routes.

[aks_sky]

AMTS website

http://amts.co.in/

[aks_sky]

Current buses

[Euromast]

Are the new buses under jnurm in Ahmadabad?

[K Mehta]

Some of them are under JNNURM I think! AMTS is lifeline of Amdavad! I have traveled in it a lot during my college days!

[K Mehta]

An AMTS every 10 mins for you

With the addition of 150 new buses by May-end or June, the civic transport service plans to run more than 1,000 buses to cover every part of the city at regular intervals
Taking a cue from Mumbai’s management of its public transport system, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has decided to increase the frequency of AMTS buses for the benefit of commuters. As per AMC’s plan, a bus will arrive at the stand every 10 minutes.

More buses

According to Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) officials, with the procurement and deployment of more buses on every route in the next few months, it will be easier to commute by AMTS buses.

At present there are 700 civic buses on city roads, 344 new buses are already in the AMTS workshop at Jamalpur and 150 more will be added by May-end or June. This means that in the next four to five months, there will be around 1,200 buses with AMTS, of which 1,086 will be on road.

“As per our plan no part of the city will remain untouched and commuters will get buses at regular intervals. We can assure the people that on every route commuters will get buses every 10 minutes and complaints of irregularities in buses will be attended to immediately,” said Arjav Shah, deputy commissioner and transport manager, AMC.

Shah said their focus will be on routes where there is a heavy rush of passengers. “We have received 344 buses and more are on the way, which will be put on the road,” he said.

AMTS Chairman Amit Shah, while admitting that the frequency of buses is less, said, “At present bus arrives at an interval of 20 to 25 minutes, but in the coming days we will provide a bus every 10 minutes. We will also recruit around 150 drivers who were relieved sometime back due to some reason or other.”

Chandni Patel, a student of a college at Commerce Six roads said, “I commute from Gandhinagar daily and many a time I have to go to the city to buy books and other study material. But the frequency of AMTS buses is so poor that I have to wait for long. If the authority promises more buses, students will benefit as they have to travel a lot every day.”

New routes

Shah said three new routes — 106, 107 and route number 148 — were introduced in the East and all of them were successful. The income of the first day of route numbers 146 and 147 was Rs 3,200 and for route number 148 was Rs 4,000. New routes in the West have also been planned. Shah said, “Routes in the West will include Vejalpur, Ghatlodia, Chandlodia, Ranip and Chandkheda-Motera, besides nagarpalikas that have been merged with AMC. We have been collecting data for new routes.”

[K Mehta]

AMTS proposes Rs410 cr budget

A draft budget of Rs410.62 crore has been proposed for the Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) for financial year 2012-13. The proposal, presented by transport manager Arjav Shah in AMTS board on Friday, is higher by around 27% than last financial year's budget of Rs324 crore.


The AMTS plans to increase the number of buses plying on city roads by around 54%. The AMTS expects its present fleet of buses to reach 1,245, including 960 buses owned by AMTS and 285 buses taken from private contractors. Of the total fleet of 1,245 buses, 1,081 buses will ply on city roads instead of 700 buses plying now.


The transport arm of AMC has estimated its revenue at Rs249 crore. And with a grant of Rs11.62 crore under 'Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojna', the total revenue will be Rs260.12 crore. On the other hand, total expenditure is expected at Rs410.62 crore. The gap between estimated income and expenditure will be filled by obtaining a loan of Rs150 crore from AMC.


In last financial year, the budget was Rs324 crore. The AMTS had expected total grant of Rs180 crore from AMC for financial year 2011-12, of which it has already received Rs133 crore and expects around Rs19 crore more by March 2012, taking the total grant to Rs152 crore.


On the other hand, AMTS had expected the total income from passenger tickets and other sources at Rs116 in FY 2011-12, but it could generate around Rs87 crore till December 2011. Recently, AMTS hiked the passenger fares and expects to augment its daily income by Rs18 lakh.


The grant from the state government will be used for renovation of various bus depots and terminuses and construction of new building of AMTS at Jamalpur.

[CivilEngineer079]

An AMTS every 10 mins for you

With the addition of 150 new buses by May-end or June, the civic transport service plans to run more than 1,000 buses to cover every part of the city at regular intervals. Taking a cue from Mumbai’s management of its public transport system, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has decided to increase the frequency of AMTS buses for the benefit of commuters. As per AMC’s plan, a bus will arrive at the stand every 10 minutes.


New routes

Shah said three new routes — 106, 107 and route number 148 — were introduced in the East and all of them were successful. The income of the first day of route numbers 146 and 147 was Rs 3,200 and for route number 148 was Rs 4,000. New routes in the West have also been planned. Shah said, “Routes in the West will include Vejalpur, Ghatlodia, Chandlodia, Ranip and Chandkheda-Motera, besides nagarpalikas that have been merged with AMC. We have been collecting data for new routes.”

[CivilEngineer079]

Active site for AMTS users

http://amtsinfo.in/

[CivilEngineer079]

New AMTS bus under JNnURM

[CivilEngineer079]

New Mercedes low floor fully AC bus on Amdavad Roads



image hosted on flickr


A special gift to ladies by AMTS

Ladies Special

[Euromast]

So there are non AC Tata red buses and yellow Mercedes AC buses. Are these Mercedes buses abon trial or actually inducted?

[laduchessa]

The advance is obvious, good post...

[CivilEngineer079]

At present there is only one Yellow colour AC Mercedes bus but authority is planning for more AC buses.

[aks_sky]

‘Stolen’ bus found abandoned

The TATA Marcopolo bus of AMTS, which was reported to have stolen from Sarangpur AMTS terminus was found abandoned at Adarshnagar in Naranpura on Friday morning. However cops and AMTS authorities are still clueless as to who drove the bus away.

The investigating officials claimed that the bus could possibly have been tracked much earlier and some clue could be found about the ‘mysterious driver’ if the GPS (Global Positioning System) was installed in it.

Officials mentioned of the 450 AMTS buses, GPS has been installed in only 100 buses. On the other hand most of the private buses being run under AMTS, have the tracking system installed in them.

“We have installed GPS in private buses to ensure that there is no malpractice and their movement is kept under surveillance. We are still in the process of installing GPS in our buses. Had the GPS been in place in that particular bus we would have definitely traced it from our Command and Control Room,” said Amit Shah, chairman, AMTS. An inquiry has been ordered into the entire issue.

CCTVs installed in 100 Buses

Shah also informed that Close Circuit Television (CCTV) have been installed in around 100 buses which will shortly be plied on road. However he refused to give further details.

These are the new buses that they have acquired and hopefully they will be installing GPS in them soon.

[Mohit_King]

wow that Mercedes bus looks awesome and lot better than Kinglong AC buses found in Mumbai.....I guess this bus must be a lot costlier than Kinglong and TATA AC buses in Mumbai......