south bengal state transport corporation

South Bengal State Transport Corporation

• Historical Background

  •  With the growth of industrial activities in Durgapur, Government of West Bengal decided to provide an economic, adequate and efficient road transport service to the people of Durgapur industrial township complex. With the avowed objectives, the Government started a state transport service on 1st August 1963 with a fleet of 8 buses as a Departmental Undertaking under the direct control of its Home Department. Initially, transport services were operated only in the township covering a total route length of 65 kms. In 1964-65, the fleet strength increased to 25 with a total operating route length of 102 kms.

  •  In 1965-66, long distance mofussil services were first introduced covering total route length of 428 kms. and the fleet strength increased to 62 buses. On 15th Aug.1967, the Departmental Undertaking was converted into "Durgapur State Transport Board (DSTB)". The Commissioner of Burdwan was made Ex.-officio Chairman of the Board.

  •  In 1968-69, DSTB extended its activities through augmentation of fleet strength of 100 buses operating in 11 long distance routes and 8 township routes covering a total route length of 1200 kms and 176 kms respectively.

  •  In 72-73, Durgapur-Siliguri bus service (550 kms,. one way) was introduced with 3 new town services and the total route length of long distance and town services went upto 1650 kms and 143 kms respectively.

  •  In 1973, DSTB was ultimately converted into public sector undertaking under the name and style of " Durgapur State Transport Corporation" with effect from 7th December, 1973 vide Government of W.B. notification dated 4.12.73. At that time, the fleet strength of the Corporation was 120 with 874 employees on its roll. Subsequently, many new routes viz. Durgapur-Santaldihi, Durgapur-Tarakeswar, Durgapur-Puri, Durgapur-Gangajalghati, Durgapur-Jiaganj, Durgapur – Sonamukhi, Durgapur-Pandabeswar, Durgapur- Burdwan were also introduced.

• SBSTC Today

  • The South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) is the new name given to Durgapur State Transport Corporation w.e.f. 1988 with a view to extending its road transport facilities in the five districts of South Bengal viz. Burdwan, Bankura, Purulia, Midnapore and Hooghly.

  • The management of SBSTC is vested with Board of Directors constituted by the Government of W.B. including representatives from Transport and Finance Departments, Government of West Bengal, I.G.P.(W), Durgapur, Additional District Magistrates, public representatives and the Managing Director of the Corporation. The constitution of the SBSTC Board is as follows.

    • Sri Subhas Mondal,Chairman ,SBSTC

    • Sri Sitanath Ghosh, Director, SBSTC

    • Janab ATM Abdullah (Roni) Board of Director,SBSTC

    • Sri.Manas Majumdar, Board of Director,SBSTC

    • Officer of the rank of Joint Secretary and above as nominated by the Transport Department,Govt. of West Bengal,Board of Director,SBSTC

    • Financial Advisor,Transport Department,Board of Director,SBSTC

    • The Under.Secretary,(Transport),MoRTH,Govt. of India,New Delhi, Board of Director,SBSTC

    • I.G.P (West Zone),Durgapur,Board of Director,SBSTC

    • The A.D.M, Paschim Bardhaman,Board of Director,SBSTC

    • The A.D.M, Purba Medinipur,Board of Director,SBSTC

    • The A.D.M, Bankura,Board of Director,SBSTC

    • The A.D.M, Purulia,Board of Director,SBSTC

    • Shri Pranab Kumar Ghosh,WBCS (EXE) ,Managing Director & Board of Director,SBSTC

• Organizational Set up

  •  The Corporation follows a 3-tier system of management viz. Depot, Division and Corporate. The entire operational network of the Corporation is carried out from its three Divisional headquarters – one at Durgapur and other at Belghoria and Jhargram. At Corporate level, the Deputy Managing Directors, Chief Accounts Officer and HODs of other disciplines assist the Managing Director. At Divisional level, the office is headed by Divisional Managers of the respective Division who is assisted by Works Manager/Works In-charge on technical site, Traffic Manager for traffic and operation, Sr. Administrative Officer and other officers for general administration, Dy. Chief Accounts Officer for accounts matter. The Divisional Managers are directly reporting to the Managing Director. At the depot level, the Depot Manager /Depot In-charge is assisted by senior foremen, foreman or assistant foreman (depending upon the size of the Depot) for repair and maintenance work, Assistant Manager - Administration and Account, for general administration, accounts and disciplinary matters, Assistant Traffic Manager/Traffic Superintendent in the matter of traffic and operation. The Depot Manager/Depot In-charge directly reports to Divisional Manager.

• Traffic Operational Activities

  •  Traffic operational activities of the Corporation which was initially confined to Durgapur and its nearby area, has been gradually extended to cover the districts of Burdwan, Bankura, Purulia, Midnapur, North-24 Paraganas,South 24 parganas,Birbhum,Murshidabad, Howrah, Hooghly and Kolkata. Presently, SBSTC operates road transport services from its three Divisionas, Durgapur Divisions, Belghoria Divisions and. Jhargram Divisions.The headquarters of these Divisions are located at Durgapur,Belghoria and Jhargram respectivley The buses run throughout the length and breath of the entire State of West Bengal and covers almost all historical places and tourist points like Digha, Garbeta forest, Bishnupur, Jhargram,Mukutmonipur, Susunia Hill, Kangsabati project, Ajodhya hill, Santiniketan, Mushidabad Hazarduari (Nawab Palace), Tarapit temple, Massenger dam, Farakka barage, Gour, Nabadip & Mayapur,Tarakeswar etc. etc. It has extended its service to link Bhutan with West Bengal and reached at the border of Assam. Almost all important tourist centres in the Southern part of West Bengal are connected to South Bengal area with S.B.S.T.C. services.

  •  This Corporation has operations in the inter-State routes presently with Jharkhand State also. We have planned to contact some more areas in those States in the near future.

• Growth of Fleet Strength

  •  The Corporation has shown fast growth of fleet strength during nineties compared to last two decades. The growth rate was maximum in 92-97 (67%). Thus the growth of fleet strength had given a wider scope to connect remote and inaccessible areas to cities and other growth centres and covered operational areas in the district of North 24 Paraganas, Kolkata, Howrah,Jhargram and other districts in West Bengal.

  • The increase of fleet strength is depicted below:

    Year Avg.	No. of Vehicles
    Till 1977	98
    1977-78 to 1981-82	129
    1982-83 to 1986-87	205
    1987-88 to 1991-92	365
    1992-93 to 1996-97	608
    1997-98 to 2001-02	679
    2002-03 to 2007-08	554
    2008-09 to 2012-13	577
    2013-14 to 2015-16	616
    2016-17 to 2018-19	888
    2018-19 to 2020-21	937
    2020-21 to 2022-23	888

  • 2023 - 24                                                   829

• Growth of Depots

  •  Till 1977-78,SBSTC operated its bus services from Durgapur City Depot only. Subsequently,it commissioned as many as 20 depots till date.The following facts are self- explanatory.

    Year(April to March)	No. of Depots
    1977-78	1
    1987-88	4
    1988-89	6
    1989-90	10
    1990-91	11
    1995-96	12
    1996-97	14
    2011-12	15
    2014-15	13
    2015-16	13
    2016-17	13
    2017-18	14
    2018-19	15
    2019-20	16
    2020-21	20
    2021-22	20
    2022-23	20

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