In what could certainly be good news to the people of Karimnagar, the
Urban Development Ministry (UDM) of the Government of India has
sanctioned 70 buses and one depot to the Karimnagar town under the
transitional phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal
Mission(JNNURM).

According to sources, the Government of India
will foot 80 per cent (`21.08 crore) of the project cost, while the
remaining 20 per cent (`5.27 crore) of the cost will be borne by the
state government . The total project cost is `26.35 crore.

Three
of the 70 buses proposed to be introduced will be for local services in
Karimnagar town. Presently, the local buses are being run on only two
routes only.

Karimnagar town is one of the 13 towns across the
country chosen by the UMD for the project. From Andhra Pradesh, the then
MD of AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) AK Khan had sent
proposals to the Centre for funds for the introduction of town/city bus
services in 12 towns – Karimnagar, Warangal, Nellore, Kurnool,
Nizamabad, Nandyal, Ramagundam, Ongole, Rajamundry, Kakinada, Eluru and
Vizayanagaram. Among them, the Government of India had chosen only
Karimnagar town.