Chennai: “Yes, the rising fuel price has thrown a big challenge to the transport department, but we will not revise bus fare again, ending days of suspense” said state transport minister M R Vijayabaskar here on Monday.
Replying to a volley of questions after inaugurating online facility to pay for driving licences in the city, the minister said, “Fuel prices have gradually been increasing. However, the transport department has no intention of revising the bus fare across the state. Moreover, the department has sought subsidy for fuel cost from Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam.” He was hopeful of receiving the subsidy, he added.
To a question, Vijayabaskar said that the transport department was working in tandem with Chennai Metro Railway Limited to introduce ‘cashless’ card to commuters. “Such facility reached final stage and passengers will soon get cards,” he noted.
Stating that the transport department is gearing up to operate 22,000 buses across state during Deepavali festival, the minister pointed out “safety of passengers and facility are two sides of the same coin as far as state transport department is concerned.”
On operation of electric buses, the minister responded that such buses would soon hit the roads in the state. “A total of 100 electric buses will be procured and Chennai will have 80 buses. Remaining 20 buses will be operated in Coimbatore,” he said.
When asked about increasing road accidents in the state, he replied, “Statistics of road accidents show 17,000 road accidents every year. However, it has reduced this year. Even the government has included road safety awareness in the text books and we are conducting awareness programme at regular interval about traffic norms.”
