Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently launched 637 high-end KSRTC city buses which will cater to small towns in the state. During the occasion the Chief Minister pointed out that in rural areas KSRTC was the only bus connectivity service provider and the corporation was working for the cause of general public on a no profit-no loss basis.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that starting city services in small towns was as per the demand and KSRTC would operate in 38 towns having a population of more than 1 lakh.
The Union Ministry of Urban Development under the AMRUT scheme had sanctioned 487 buses for 13 small and medium towns. The cities include Mysuru, Tumakuru, Hassan, Mandya, Ramanagara, Mangalore, Udupi, KGF, Kolar, Davangere, Bhadravathi, Shivamogga and Chitraduraga.
Among these 291 are standard non-AC buses and 133 are midi non-AC buses. Out of 487 urban buses, 241 (63 midi & 178 standard urban buses) are ready for operation and the rest will be procured shortly. The cost of each midi bus is Rs 27.81 lakh and standard (Rs 38.76 lakh).
The new buses were flagged off by the Chief Minister at a function in Vidhana Soudha on Thursday. Mr Ramalinga Reddy, Health Minister K.R Ramesh Kumar, Principal Secretary (transport dept) Dr B. Basavaraju, KSRTC Managing Director Rajender Kumar Kataria and other dignitaries were present during the event.
