Passengers board a JUTC bus in Kingston. - Norman Grindley/chief Photographer

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) has opened its doors for potential contractors to provide service in some areas of the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR).

Advertisements published in the press points to the need for 79 units to transport passengers within the KMTR.

Yesterday, Reginald Allen, communications manager at the JUTC, told The Gleaner that the state-owned bus company would be giving up some of the routes it now services. These routes will now be serviced by subfranchise holders.

The National Transport Cooperative Society (NTCS) currently own the subfranchise to operate in the KMTR. Allen said that invitation for service being requested includes some routes currently operated by the NTCS. The society's contract expires on December 2.

"This is the first phase of the rationalisation exercise to be unfolded in terms of a number of corporate area routes," said Allen.

Application for the subfranchise to operate in the KMTR must be received by the JUTC between November 1 and 13. The vehicles being offered to operate on the routes must not be older than five years old.

Chosen applicants will be required to paint their buses yellow within six months of obtaining the licence as part of the Ministry of Works' colour-coding rationalisation policy.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com.