Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said on Friday that the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will soon withdraw Marcopolo bus services, which were causing a huge loss to the transport corporation.
Not only are these vehicles expensive, the cost of their repair and maintenance is also very high. Till now, the BMTC has reportedly incurred a loss of Rs 150 crore by operating these buses, Reddy added.
Speaking to reporters after interacting with Congress workers at the KPCC office, Reddy said that the Centre is likely to extend financial assistance to the State for the purchase of 2,000 buses this financial year. The State government has decided not to buy Marcopolo buses in the future, he added.
The government has sanctioned Rs 1,000 crore for road repair and development works in BBMP limits. The Minister said that repair works will commence soon. He added that contractors will be blacklisted and they will forfeit their deposits if they do a shoddy job.
The City had a good reputation till 2004 but it’s image took a beating from 2005 onwards. The City corporation has been under loss and hence, the government has been chipping in with financial assistance to upgrade infrastructure, he added.
The government has been taking steps to clear encroachments of government lands and stormwater drains in within a year. The High Court has ordered that encroachment on lakes should also be cleared. Those who are illegally occupying lakebeds will be shifted to alternative locations, he added.
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