Date:15/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/15/stories/2008081554090300.htm

Karnataka - Hassan

KSRTC to add 3,800 buses

Staff Correspondent

KSRTC will recruit 18,000 drivers and other staff
State will announce transport policy
in two months

HASSAN: Transport Minister R. Ashok has claimed that the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is one among four public transport organisations in the world that is earning profits. It has given employment to a large number of people, he said.

Mr. Ashok was addressing presspersons here on Thursday.

He said that this year, KSRTC will add 3,800 new buses and that the old buses will be replaced in phases.

He said that the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) was making profits and there was a move to go public for its further development. KSRTC buses would increase its schedules in all districts so that private bus operations would be reduced, he added.

Mr. Ashok said he would conduct surprise checks on KSRTC bus stands in the State. There was a proposal to outsource cleaning of KSRTC buses and the work would be given out on contract. KSRTC would recruit 18,000 drivers, conductors and other staff this year, he said.

Mr. Ashok said two towers with 48 floors would be constructed at Kempegowda Bus Stand in Bangalore at a total cost of Rs. 800 crore.

Mr. Ashok said that at the recent Transport Ministers’ conference in Delhi, the Centre had proposed to increase the loading capacity of iron ore from the present nine tonnes to 11 tonnes for transportation. Karnataka had objected to the proposal as the roads in the State were already damaged due to heavy movement of vehicles loaded with iron ore.

Mr. Ashok said the State would announce a new transport policy in two months.

Mr. Ashok said private driving schools would be under the scanner as there were complaints that they issued certificates so RTOs could issue driving licences to people instructed at the schools. A committee would be appointed to inspect these driving schools.

Referring to the accident near Mangalore on Thursday morning in which 11 people, including seven schoolchildren, drowned when their school bus fell into the Gurupur river, Mr. Ashok said he would direct RTOs to be more vigilant while issuing permits.