Date:05/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/05/stories/2006090507670400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

State to operate eco-friendly buses in Mysore

Special Correspondent

Depending on the response it will be extended to Bangalore, says Cheluvaraya Swamy

BANGALORE: The Government has decided to operate eco-friendly electric buses in Mysore city on an experimental basis from December.

Addressing presspersons here on Monday, Minister for Transport N. Cheluvaraya Swamy said Rs. 1 crore had been released to the Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), a Union Government agency to undertake the survey of routes in Mysore on which such buses could be operated.

A committee comprising officials of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) had also been set up to work out details regarding implementation of the project. After studying its success in Mysore, the project would be extended to Bangalore, the Minister said.

The Minister said that the Government was considering a ban on maxi-cabs following the increasing number of accidents involving them on national and State highways.

He would hold talks with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and other Ministers on the issue.

To help the sick people in need of transport, the department had decided to operate more number of buses from the Kempe Gowda bus station to major hospitals in Bangalore. The BMTC was operating a few buses to major government hospitals and it had evoked a good response. However, response was not encouraging for buses meant only for women.

A decision had also been taken to operate 400 more Volvo buses in Bangalore. For the benefit of commuters, the KSRTC had decided to reduce the ticket fare of Volvo buses during the non-peak hours.

To mark the Suvarna Karnataka celebrations, the KSRTC had decided to adopt Kengal Hanumathaiya Road (Double Road) and it would be upgraded to international standards, Mr. Cheluvaraya Swamy said.