District collector Rajiv Topno said, “The RTO has been directed to finalise the operator to run buses on 143 routes through an open bidding tender process. After this, the VMC and the operator will undergo a detailed agreement.” He said the preparation of tender document is in its final stages while the VMC will arrange for needs like parking plot and others. The successful bidder will have to start the services within three months of getting the work orders while ticket rates will be as per government norms, said officials.

The city transport system governed by the Gujarat Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) had deteriorated to a large extent with barely a handful of buses left for commuters on the city roads, which too were eventually withdrawn from services.

Sources in the Collectorate said that operators will have to qualify for financial and quality service aspects, while all the 100 buses, which are expected to ply in the city in the first phase, will have to be CNG-powered, with 32 seating capacity and low floor boarding facilities.

Sources said the new buses would be a mix of the best features of the buses plying in Surat and Ahmedabad.

They will use Electronic Ticketing Machine (ETM) and could also be equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS).