KSRTC to get 800 more buses, says minister

'Corporation has bagged more than 100 awards in a decade'

The State government will purchase 2,500 new buses of which, 800 buses will be given to the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has said.

Speaking at the inauguration of newly built hi-tech bus stand, KSRTC division office and workshop, at Puttur on Saturday the minister said that the purchase of buses would address the problem of scarcity of vehicles in the State-run transport corporation. Reddy said that though 42 per cent of the buses were running under loss, the primary objective of the KSRTC was to serve people. The Corporation has bagged more than 100 awards in the last 10 years for efficient service, he added.

“The youth from Mangaluru, Puttur and Chamarajanagar are not showing interest in serving the KSRTC as drivers and conductors. As a result, outsiders are recruited to these divisions of the KSRTC. Preference will be given to the local youth during the next recruitment to the Corporation,” Reddy said.

The drivers and conductors from outside the district have to adjust to the food and weather condition in the district they are working in. The drivers and conductors working in Mangaluru and Puttur divisions have not been transferred for the last two and half years.  

The Puttur KSRTC bus terminus has been constructed under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode. The work on the KSRTC depot at Sullia will be completed within three months. 

Helmets for pillion riders
The minister said that the State government was following the direction of the Supreme Court by making helmet compulsory for pillion riders, across the State.
The Supreme Court committee on road safety headed by Justice Radhakrishnan had recommended that helmets be made mandatory.

The committee had sent reminders to the State government and the government absolutely had no role in bringing out the new rule. The implementation of the order was delayed due to code of conduct which was in force in the wake of elections to the Legislative Council from local bodies constituencies. “If we fail to abide by the direction, it amounts to contempt of court,” the minister said.

Member of Legislative Assembly Shakunthala Shetty, who spoke on the occasion said that the buses operating in Puttur division were quite old and at least 50 good buses should be plied in the division.

Zilla Panchayat president Asha Thimmappa Gowda, Deputy Commisisoner A B Ibrahim and others were present.