Serco bags Rs 115 crore bus rapid transit contract in Indore

NEW DELHI: Global services firm Serco today said it has bagged a 13 million pound (about Rs 115 crore) contract to operate and maintain a new bus rapid transit system in Indore.

"This will be a dedicated bus corridor, for which we have already ordered 50 low floor busses from Corona. The contract is worth 13 million pounds," Serco Global Services Senior Vice President Pavitra Roy said.

The construction of the bus rapid transit (BRT) system has already been completed and trial operations are likely to begin by November, he added.

"The commercial operations are likely to begin by the end of this year or early next year... The total length of the BRT will be 11.3 km," Roy said, adding the company will hire over 100 people to run the business.

The UK-based Serco has won the operation and maintenance contract of the BRT from Atal Indore City Transport Services Ltd (AICTSL), a joint venture between Indore Development Authority and Indore Municipal Corporation, which was set up to operate and manage the public transport system in the city.

Elaborating on the contract, Roy said: "Under the agreement, AICTSL will pay us on per kilometre basis. They have handed over the asset for the next six years."

Serco will operate and maintain the fleet of the 50 low-floor and air conditioned buses. It will also manage the operations control centre and a depot for the corridor.

The company has such transport operations in the UK and the Middle East. It also offers consultancy in aviation, defence and education among other sectors.

Serco has a presence in India through its Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) operations and employs around 30,000 people in the country.