The Hindu - Karnataka 19.08.2009
BMTC to get 1,000 more buses this year
Special Correspondent
| Ashok says 165 of them will be inducted on August 31 |
Centre urged to extend JNNURM facility to
Hubli and Belgaum
BMTC has posted a profit of Rs. 50 crore
BANGALORE: The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation will have an additional fleet of 1,000 new buses this year under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) with a view to improving the transport services to the working class, poor and middle class commuters in the city, Transport Minister R. Ashok said on Tuesday.
He told presspersons that of the 1,000 buses, 165 had arrived and they would be deployed from August 31. Of the Rs. 283-crore being spent for the new fleet, 30 per cent would come from the JNNURM programme and the State Government would fund 15 per cent of the cost and the balance would be met by the BMTC.
The Minister said that buses from companies such as Tata and Ashok Leyland had completed trial runs in the city. The fleet would include 150 Volvo buses. All the 1,000 buses would be in service by December this year. Under the Atal Saarige meant for poor people, 25 buses more would be added shortly. Mysore will also get 150 buses under the JNNURM.
Mr. Ashok said that the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation and the North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation would also get 1,000 buses each, but the buses would be purchased, depending upon the availability of funds. These buses will cost Rs. 14 lakh each, while the cost of a Volvo bus is Rs. 60 lakh.
He said that the State Government had asked the Union Government to extend the JNNURM facility to Hubli and Belgaum cities similar to the addition of five cities in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The Minister said that NWKRTC , NEWKRTC and BMTC had made a profit of Rs. 200 crore, Rs. 12 crore and Rs. 50 crore respectively.
Asked why the profit of the BMTC had come down to Rs. 50 crore from Rs. 300 crore, the Minister said that a large chunk of it had been used for purchasing 250 acres of land, including 176 acres for various projects on the outer ring road. A part of the profit had been earmarked for the hi-tech bus stand in the city.
The Minister said that the motor vehicle inspectors, who were working in the same place for over three years and allegedly indulging in corrupt practices using strategic check-posts across the State would be transferred next year and the process would be started this year itself.