Tech has transformed public buses, but some routes still see run-down service: SC

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Representational representation  of State Transport Corporation (STC) buses parked astatine  a basal   successful  Kerala

Representational representation of State Transport Corporation (STC) buses parked astatine a basal successful Kerala | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN / THE HINDU

The Supreme Court has flagged successful a judgement that State Transport Corporations (STCs) usage “modern-era vehicles” connected definite routes, but take to ply buses connected the verge of being phased retired successful immoderate sectors.

The tribunal stated that authoritative information showed 1 oregon 2 STCs were “thriving,” exhibiting awesome maturation and embracing exertion to heighten services and lawsuit experience, comparable to those of nationalist transport systems abroad.

“Digitalisation has been a game-changer. Adapting to the changing proscription landscape, leveraging exertion to amended services and lawsuit acquisition is simply a precedence for these corporations. Bookings are present made connected online platforms, and unrecorded tracking is disposable connected mobile apps. Measures person been taken to grow services and to streamline operations,” Justice Dipankar Datta, who authored the judgement for a Bench comprising Justice A.G. Masih, observed connected November 4.

The Supreme Court, however, noted that STCs were inconsistent with their work improvements, observing that “in definite areas/routes aged buses which are connected the verge of being phased retired are being plied”.

The tribunal said that since the federation has indisputably made important advancement successful the roadworthy transport sector, “interests of passengers and commuters ought to beryllium of premier interest for the transport authorities”.

“India has developed, successful this century, an intricate web of highways providing accessibility to adjacent cities and towns from the remotest of villages, thereby establishing ‘last-mile connectivity’. Expressways person been constructed to facilitate faster question of radical and goods betwixt distant locations and thereby trim question time,” Justice Datta pointed out.

The tribunal said the caller and smooth-surfaced highways and expressways were transforming India’s proscription landscape.

With the instauration of modern vehicles, operators of signifier carriage services person been providing comfortableness and convenience comparable with nationalist transport networks abroad.

The tribunal made these observations portion holding that support cannot beryllium granted to backstage autobus 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 tribunal nevertheless said the States could unfastened a dialog successful this respect successful the future.

Published - November 05, 2025 12:23 p.m. IST

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