In a major boost to public transport, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), has announced plans to introduce 2,104 new buses in 30 cities and towns in the State.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy unveiled the plans at a press conference on Saturday. He said that KSRTC would start new services under JNNURM in KGF, Ramanagaram, Chitradurga, Shimoga, Bhadravati and Udupi. The North-Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation would start additional services in Sirsi, Bagalkot, Chikkodi, Haveri and Ranebennur. The North -Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation would operate new routes in Raichur, Koppal, Sigandur and Gangavathi towns, Reddy added.

Pointing out that the State had received `93 crore under JNNURM, Reddy said that 810 new buses would operate in Bangalore. In Mysore, 125 new buses would be introduced while Hubli-Dharwad would get about 250 new vehicles.

When asked about the fuel problems that KSRTC buses had to face with vehicles waiting for hours in private petrol bunks, he said new petrol bunks would be opened in select depots.