The Gazetteers Department

Nationalisation of Passenger Transport was decided upon by the State Government in August 1947 and the first services were started departmentally in June 1948, the administration of which was subsequently handed over to a Statutory Corporation in December 1949, under the provisions of the Road Transport Corporation Act (XXXII of 1948). Since then the Corporation has been reconstituted under the Road Transport Corporation Act, LXIV of 1950.

Organisation.

For administrative convenience of operating the services, the entire State was originally divided into 16 viable Units (now eight, after the transfer of three units to Mysore on account of States' Reorganisation, in 1956 and five units to Gujarat State after the break-up of the bilingual Bombay State in 1960), called divisions. The Officer-in-charge of each division is called the Divisional Controller and he is a Class I Officer. He works immediately under the General Manager who is the administrative head of the Central Office and is assisted by the following departments and branches viz., (1) Administration, (2) Traffic, (3) Mechanical Engineering, (4) Accounts and Audit, (5) Statistics, (6) Security, (7) Stores, (8) Civil Engineering, (9) Secretariat, (10) Legal and (11) Cenrtal Workshop.

The nationalisation of services in the Poona Division was started in June 1948. The Divisional Controller, Poona Division, is the head of the division and is responsible for the operations. He is assisted by eight Class II Officers who have the following functional responsibilities: —

The Divisional Traffic Officer is in charge of all matters, related to traffic operations.

The Labour Officer looks after all matters relating to labour relations with the administration and publicity in the division.

These branches are manned by two officers, the Divisional Auditor and the Divisional Statistician.

Workshop.

The workshop side of the division is looked after by the Divisional Mechanical Engineer with the assistance of a Divisional Works Superintendent and Assistant Works Superintendent. Besides, there are as many depot managers as there are depots, who are wholly responsible for the working of the depots.

Statistics.

The operations started in June 1948 with 36 buses plying on eight routes in the Ahmadnagar district. By 31st May 1958 the operations were spread over in Poona and Satara district, the division holding a fleet of 254 buses plying on 152 routes. The buses put on road have, on an average a seating capacity of about 38 exclusive of the seats for the driver and the conductor. The average daily mileage operated by these buses during May 1958 was 23,075 carrying on an average 46,711 passengers per day. The average distance travelled per passenger during May 1958 was 19.84 miles.

The division also held a fleet of 11 trucks on 31st May 1958. These trucks were operated as public carriers, on a contract basis, on terms prescribed by the Corporation.

The light and heavy repairs of the buses and trucks are carried out at the Divisional Workshop, which is situated at Poona. Further, after the operation of every 12,000 miles, the vehicles are routed by the depots to the Divisional Workshop for preventive maintenance and docking. In addition there is a workshop in each of the depots for maintenance and running repairs to vehicles. These are located at Swar Gate (43), Shivajinagar (41), Satara (28), Narayangaon (17), Talegaon (16), Koregaon (15), Bhor (14), Wai (13), Sirur (8), Khed (7), Dhond (6) and Mahabaleshwar (6). The number of vehicles attached to each of these depots is given in brackets. Regular daily and weekly servicing and docking for maintenance after a run of 3,000 miles, are carried out in these depots.

Amenities.

The Corporation provides various amenities to the travelling public and a number of facilities to its employees e.g. housing, sports, medical treatment and welfare centres etc. which are detailed in Chapter Number 7, viz., Communications.

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