The Hindu 01.04.2010
‘Mysore has emerged as model for transport'
Staff Correspondent
| All pilot projects of the Transport Department will be implemented in the city: Minister |
— Photo: M.A. SRIRAM 
For Better facility:Minister for Transport R. Ashok launching the truck terminal work in Mysore on Wednesday.
MYSORE: Minister for Transport R. Ashok on Wednesday said that all pilot projects of the Transport Department, especially of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), would be implemented in Mysore.
Addressing presspersons here after inspecting the mofussil bus-stand renovated at a cost of Rs. 23.53 crore under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), he said the Government of Rajasthan had sought KSRTC's assistance for developing transport infrastructure on the lines of facilities in Mysore.
The Minister said that Mysore had emerged as a “model” for transport not only for the State, but also for the country as the Centre had complimented the KSRTC's efforts for developing infrastructure under JNNURM in the city.
“The Centre had written to the States identified under JNNURM to emulate the transport model developed in Mysore,” the Minister said. There had been no complaint with regard to the implementation of KSRTC's projects in Mysore under JNNURM.
He said Mysore was in the forefront of becoming one of the success stories in transport and the department was keen on taking up new projects after experimenting them in this city.Mr. Ashok said that his department had bagged five national and international awards for bringing innovation in passenger facilities such as ticketing system and developing infrastructure such as passenger information system.
Earlier, the Minister performed “bhoomi puja” for construction of a truck terminal taken up by D. Devaraja Urs Truck Terminal Limited Company on the outer ring road off Mysore-Nanjangud Road near Bandipalya here. The truck terminal is coming up on a 16.20 acre-plot at a cost of Rs. 23 crore. The Minister launched the first phase of the work to be taken up at a cost of Rs. 12.79 crore.
Mr. Ashok said the terminal would have rest rooms for drivers and their assistants, restaurants, fuel station, service station, toilet complex, clinic, police outpost, weighbridge and other facilities. The first phase of the project would be completed in 18 months.
He said truck terminals were also coming up at Dasanapura village in Nelamangala taluk on Bangalore-Pune Highway, Belur industrial area near Dharwad and Amrvathi village in Hospet taluk of Bellary district. The process of identifying land for construction of truck terminals in Bijapur, Belgaum, Raichur, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Davangere and other major cities had commenced, he added.
‘No BMTC fare hike'
He said there was no proposal to increase the fares of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). “There is no question of fare hike at this moment.”
Asked about the reports of fare hike after BBMP elections, the Minister said: “I have not received any proposal from the BMTC recommending for fare hike.”
