Date:16/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/16/stories/2006061613210500.htm

Other States - Assam

Taxi service for Guwahati

Special Correspondent

Guwahati: The Transport Department will introduce a taxi service here and in other towns of Assam from July. It also decided to make fare meters mandatory for auto rickshaws.

In his maiden press conference, Transport Minister Chandan Brahma said the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) would retail automobile fuel in a joint venture with the Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL). The outlets would be opened at ASTC premises all over the State. The NRL would bear the entire expenditure for setting up the petrol pumps, and had begun surveying the ASTC premises. Initially, 30 outlets would be opened, which were expected to bring in revenue of Rs. 30 lakh a month. The ASTC is presently incurring losses of Rs. 1 crore a month. On the proposed taxi services, Mr. Brahma said initially 200 vehicles would ply in the city.