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Mangaluru: KSRTC to get 350 e-buses for State

Bengaluru e-bus
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Mangaluru: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Chairman M. Chandrappa said that 350 electric buses will be introduced soon in State.

Speaking to mediapersons at the Mangaluru Divisional Controller’s office in the premises of KSRTC Bus Stand here on Tuesday October 11 he said, “E-buses will run on a trial basis from October 15. We were unable to buy buses because of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are currently reusing buses that covered over 9 lakh kilometres. We hope Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will approve our plan to buy 350 new buses. 50 e-buses will be purchased in the initial phase.”

He said that, in addition to BMTC, there is a plan to merge four KSRTC divisions. “We have merged some of the divisions to cut cost,” he said, adding that e-ticket systems will soon be introduced in buses. He did, however, make it clear that there will be no hike in ticket fares. Despite an increase in the price of fuel, tyres, and bus spare parts, the price of passenger tickets has not gone up keeping in mind their best interests, he added.

On Monday, KSRTC reported its highest profit of Rs. 22.56 Crore.

He added that daily-wage workers can use the pass to go 45 km for free from the time they board the bus.

Chandrappa said he will file a complaint against the Project Director of the Smart City project for failing to include the KSRTC bus stop in Mangaluru in the project.

Chandrappa also approved KSRTC’s weekend tour packages in Mangaluru. Between October 21 and October 27, there will be a Deepavali tour package. There will also be a one-day tour package available to visit the temples at Mangaluru, Udupi, and Kundapur.

“Government buses used to earn Rs. 6 to 7 Crore per day due to Covid and other factors but today due to different changes, we are earning at least Rs. 12 Crore per day,” he noted. As many as 350 new buses will be purchased, 50 of which will be the best-equipped electric and Volvo buses, he said.

According to him, environment-friendly electric buses will begin operating in the State within a month. He also noted that despite Puttur Division having lower revenue than Mangaluru Division, which currently has 490 buses operating daily and generating daily revenue of Rs. 1 Crore, the number of passengers and students travelling to religious sites has prevented the Division from cutting back on bus service. To reduce costs, it is suggested that the State provide free passes to those who work in construction. 37 lakh construction employees in the State would in a phased manner will receive passes after the Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai currently ordered to distribute 1 lakh free passes. He said that a number of the recent reform measures have reduced unnecessary spending.

Rajesh Shetty, Divisional Controller for Mangaluru, and Jayakar Shetty, the Divisional Controller for Puttur were present.

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