Source: The Hindu
The Hindu
The Hindu
Bus services in some major cities of north Karnataka
will soon get a boost with the Directorate of Urban Land Transport
(DULT) joining hands with North Western Karnataka Road Transport
Corporation (NWKRTC) to share the cost of a project to improve the
public transport systems of cities.
Initially, city bus services in Gadag-Betageri will be strengthened.
NWKRTC chairman Mallikarjun V. Savakar told
The Hindu
that DULT had sanctioned Rs. 5 crore for the project.
Of this, it had earmarked Rs. 1 crore for the first phase; Rs. 50 lakh had been released to buy new buses.
“NWKRTC
has matched this contribution and added Rs. 50 lakh and five new buses
have been procured. These buses are better than the ones already plying
in cities such as Hubli and Dharwad,” Mr. Savakar said. “They are semi
low-floor buses with LED destination boards.”
A
letter from the commissioner of DULT confirmed these figures. Another 40
per cent of the sanctioned amount (Rs. 1 crore) would be released after
NWKRTC began new services on three identified routes in Gadag (route
numbers 101, 102 and 105). The rest would be released after submission
of the evaluation report, the letter added.
According
to Mr. Savakar, the formal commissioning of the new buses will be on
May 28. “Once we commission the new buses, we will receive funds from
DULT and our matching grant will enable five more new buses to be
bought,” he said.
Shelters too
As
per the project proposal, funds are not just for procurement of buses.
“We plan to build bus shelters in Gadag-Betageri with the involvement of
the local municipal body. Creating minimum infrastructure and amenities
at bus terminals and improvement of footpaths are other works planned
under the project,” Mr. Savakar said.
NWKRTC plans to
have similar projects to strengthen the city bus services in tier-II
and tier-III cities in north Karnataka. “We will have similar projects
soon for Bagalkot, Haveri and Sirsi,” the corporation chairman added.
It is part of a project to improve public transport systems in tier-II and tier-III cities
Initially, five new buses will be commissioned on May 28 in Gadag-Betageri
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