JOIN USThe Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is all set to introduce buses with built-in pantry and toilet facilities for passengers, according to Home and Transport Minister R Ashoka.
Twenty-five such buses being procured from Volvo company would be deployed for long route services. On the lines of in-flight facilities, along with coffee, tea and milk, passengers will be served packaged food for a minimum fare. Ashoka said there would be an oven facility as well.
Asked about the toilet facility and maintenance of hygiene, Ashoka said buses would be fitted with chemical toilets and talks are on to procure the same.
The first bus with these facilities will hit the road within a month for a trial run and based on the response more buses would be introduced.
Sources in KSRTC told Deccan Herald that each bus would cost around Rs 80 lakh. A senior official said there won’t be much space crunch in such buses, as only two to four seats would be removed to fit in the pantry and toilet.
KSRTC, according to Ashoka, has received good response for sleeper coach buses in the past few months.
He said 50 more sleeper coach buses would be purchased soon so that more passengers can avail the facility, adding that the city bus service, which has been running successfully in Tumkur, Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad, would be launched in Gulbarga soon.
The minister said all the efforts are to make mass transport more popular as he felt it is the only way to address the problem of traffic density and pollution problems. He said pollution free buses in the name of Euro-4, which are on service to BIA, are also part of the same efforts.
Alcometers for drivers
To avoid drunken driving, all buses of KSRTC and BMTC would be installed with alcometers. Transport Minister Ashoka said the device would be in such a way that if a driver fails the test, he won’t be allowed to start the bus. The minister said, initially the device would be installed in new Volvo buses being procured and would be extended to all other type of buses in coming the months. The idea is to ensure safety for passengers.