BMTC's card for all seasons

According to State Transport Minister R Ashok, the City has been selected as a pilot for a Central scheme aimed at integrating the cards for use in all public modes of transport in the country.

With the card, commuters will not have to buy bus tickets. Instead, they have to get it periodically charged at the 100 centres being set up in the City exclusively for the purpose.

In the State, the project will be run at a cost of Rs 16 crore, Ashok said, while distributing smart cards to accredited journalists for free travel on government buses on Thursday.

The State will bear 65 per cent of the entire project cost and the rest will be borne by the Centre as part of its Jawaharlal Nehru National Urbal Renewal Mission.

Apart from Bangalore, there are reports that the projects will also be tried out in places like Pune, Chandigarh and Delhi.

While Delhi had reportedly planned for launch of the cards in October before the Commonwealth Games, Pune is said to be ready for a trial run from November 14. The dates for launch of the cards in Bangalore have not yet been announced.

Further, the State government is also in talks with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited to allow people to use the card, once the Metro services begin.

Other initiatives

Other State initiatives to jazz up Karnataka’s transport facilities include developing bus stands and depots in the northern part, at Rs 50 crore.

Ashok, who also holds the home portfolio, said beat system was being reintroduced in Bangalore to instill a sense of safety among citizens and decrease the spiralling crime rate. Over a 1,000 Assistant Sub Inspectors and 4,012 constables were being appointed in addition to 400 police sub inspectors to equip the police force for better patrolling in the City.