The Hindu 20.01.2010
Bus-stands to be upgraded across State
Staff Correspondent
| 62-acre KSRTC training facility for drivers inaugurated in Hassan |
Rs. 25,000 award for drivers for safety record
Ladders on buses will be removed in order to prevent rooftop travel on mofussil routes
Bright beginning: Minister for Transport R. Ashok at the inauguration of the training facility in Hassan on Tuesday.
HASSAN: Minister R. Ashok has said that all existing bus-stands in cities and towns serving as district headquarters will be upgraded and equipped with facilities. The Minister inaugurated a 62-sq. acre training facility of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) built at a cost of Rs. 5 crore on Ring Road here.
Addressing the gathering at the inaugural function on Tuesday, the Minister also reiterated the KSRTC’s commitment to safety, and to provide amenities for passengers.
Mr. Ashok said that the Government had appointed 20,225 personnel as drivers, conductors, mechanics, accounts clerks and other staff.
The Minister said that all drivers would undergo refresher courses at the facility in order to ensure better safeguards against accidents.
He also announced that the ladders on buses would be removed in order to prevent rooftop travel on mofussil routes.
Mr. Ashok also commended the actions of a KSRTC driver from Bangalore, Abdul Razak, who had a massive heart attack while driving, but still ensured that the bus was parked safely. The bus driver later died. However, his son would be given appointment in the KSRTC. The Minister also announced that an award of Rs. 25,000 would be announced for a commitment to safety on the line of duty. Mr. Ashok said the training academy would not only admit drivers from the KSRTC and government departments, but also drivers from private institutions. He said that although private driving schools had mushroomed all over the State, they did not function properly. Hence, the KSRTC would start its own driving schools in all districts, he said.The Minister appealed to Janata Dal (Secular) leader Revanna to use his good offices to get a flyover sanctioned to the new bus-stand in Hassan as the Hassan-Mangalore railway track crossed the new bus-stand road.
Mr. Revanna said that farmers had given their land to the academy at a throwaway price of Rs. 20,000 an acre (the cost is now Rs. 1 crore an acre) and appealed to the Minister to provide employment to at least one member from each land loser’s family. Hassan MLA H.S. Prakash was present.
