State govt. to buy 5,800 new buses for the four transport corporations by the end of March

The State government of Kalaburagi will purchase 5,800 new buses to accommodate the increase in bus passengers.

In view of the significant increase in the number of bus passengers in the State as a result of Shakti Yojana, the State government will be purchasing 5,800 new buses for the four transport corporations by the end of March, Minister for Transport and Muzrai Ramalinga Reddy has said.

He was speaking in Kalaburagi on Thursday after inaugurating the newly constructed city bus stand built at a cost of ₹20 crore that was released by Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB).

The Minister said that the number of bus commuters has increased to 1.10 crore from 84 lakh per day in the State after the implementation of Shakti scheme. And, nearly 139 crore people across the State have benefited from free bus services under the scheme in the last eight months.

The State government has provided 630 buses for KKRTC and the corporation will get 485 additional buses in the coming days, Mr. Reddy added.

Accusing the then BJP government of not filling posts lying vacant in Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) after the retirement of 13,888 employees, Mr. Reddy said that the Congress-led State government started the recruitment process as soon as it came to power.

And, approval has been given to recruit for 9,000 posts in the first phase, of which nearly 1,680 posts lying vacant in KKRTC will be filled, he added.

Mr. Reddy also directed the KKRTC Managing Director to run more Volvo, AC and non-AC sleeper buses from Kalyana Karnataka region to Bengaluru.