Karnataka to launch country's first Common Mobility Card

The facility to be introduced in 1,000 buses would later be extended to Metro rail travel and could be used for payment of parking fee at parking lots, Transport and Home minister R Ashok told a meet the press organised by the Bangalore Reporters' Guild here.
The Centre has chosen Karnataka for introducing the card by sharing 35 per cent of the cost of the scheme, he said.

The Card would spare commuters the problems faced such as buying ticket for every travel and tendering of exact amount for the ticket, he said.At least 100 re-charge centres would be established enabling commuters to re-charge their cards.

The Centre is planning to extend the cards across the country after monitoring its success in Karnataka, which boasts of a electronic driving test track, also the first of its kind in the country to test the driving skills of those applying for driving licence.

The state government is all set to reintrodece the 24-hour beat system for police from next year under which a team of police keep surveillance in a patrol vehicle.1035 Assistant Sub-Inspectors of Police and 4012 police constables were being recruited soon to oprationalise the beat system, that was done away with fifteen years ago, Ashok said.
Eight more police training schools would be set up taking their number to 14 in the state and the police personnel would be imparted training under a revised syllabus, he said.
New syllabus will impart skills in handling cyber crimes, besides the Naxal and terror activities, he said.

Comprehensive amendements were being brought in to the Karnataka Police Act and the bill would be introduced in the coming legislature session, Ashok said