Bus fare hike likely: minister

By Our Staff Correspondent

TUMKUR, SEPT. 20. The Transport Minister, Mr. C.R. Sageer Ahmed, today said that the State Government would be forced to increase bus fares in the near future.

He was speaking at Kallambella, near here, after laying the foundation stone for a bus station to be built in nine months at a cost of Rs. 20 lakhs.

Mr. Ahmed said that with the return of the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, from the U.S., the Union Government would increase the price of diesel by approximately Rs. 7 and that of petrol by Rs. 5. The State Government would be constrained to increase the bus fares to enable it to meet the additional expenditure on fuel. He sought the cooperation of the people for the move.

Mr. Ahmed said the KSRTC was divided into three organisations earlier, and the fourth, -- the North East Transport Corporation -- was formed last month comprising the Belgaum, Bidar, Raichur, Koppal and Bellary divisions. Of the 3,000 buses which were to be added to the fleet this year, 2,600 buses had been acquired and introduced, he added.

He said that the 380 "hi-tech" buses commissioned had received a good response. People came forward to utilise good facilities, despite the higher cost. Encouraged by the response, the KSRTC had introduced air-conditioned buses from Bangalore to Mangalore, Mysore and Belgaum. More such services would be introduced soon, he added.

Mr. Ahmed said that Rs. 7 crores was set apart for computerising the offices of the KSRTC. Its central office was fully computerised at a cost of Rs. 3 crores. A "smart card" scheme had been evolved to improve the services.

The minister said that the Union Government had approved the "Metro online" project for Bangalore City, and the State Cabinet approved its implementation at its last meeting.

Mr. Ahmed said that the "Nagarika Sanad" (citizens' chart) had been introduced in Bangalore to curb corruption in the KSRTC, and it would be extended to all regions in the State in 15 days.

Referring to Tumkur District, he said projects costing more than Rs. 1.5 cores were in progress in Tumkur City to improve transport services. A division office would be built at Sira at a cost of Rs. 1 crore, he added.

He said 16 new buses were added to a fleet of 237 buses in Tumkur, providing 228 services. As many as 43,566 commuters utilised the services on 82,860 km, bringing in a daily revenue of Rs. 9.4 lakhs. Thirty per cent of the distance covered was part of the national highway, and the rest was interior roads. Services were being provided to more than 700 villages. The depot at Tumkur had earned a profit of Rs. 1.58 crores last year, he added.

Responding to a suggestion of Mr. T.B. Jayachandra, Minister for Agriculture, who was presiding over the function, Mr. Ahmed offered free transport services to farmers for taking farm produce to the "Raitha Sante" (farmers' bazaars) in rural areas.

Mr. Jayachandra said transport was the key to the progress of the rural economy. Private bus owners who obtained permits to all villages were unable to provide services. He sought strict regulations to ensure that there were bus services to rural areas regularly and on time.

Mr. K.N. Rajanna, MLC, requested Mr. Ahmed not to increase the bus fares "as far as possible", as it would affect the image of the Congress(I).

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Section  : Southern States
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