People, particularly the elderly, who complain that the buses’ footboard are too high, may heave a sigh of relief as some 65 low-floor buses are set to ply in Mangalore and Udupi.
The Union Ministry of Urban Development has sanctioned 65 buses to Mangalore Division of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). In addition, it has sanctioned Rs. 12 crore to the division for constructing two bus depots in Mangalore and Udupi. The buses and funds have been sanctioned under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
The Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee for sanctioning buses and ancillary infrastructure to all cities and towns which met in Delhi on September 17 under the chairmanship of Sudhir Krishna, Secretary, Union Ministry of Urban Development, took this decision.
M. Mahesh, Divisional Controller, Mangalore Division of KSRTC, said that of the buses sanctioned 35 would be for Mangalore and 30 for Udupi.
He said that the buses sanctioned were low-floor non air-conditioned ones. Their chassis length would be 12m and their floor would be 18 inches above the ground level. The KSRTC would have to select roads which were suited for low-floor buses.
Mr. Mahesh said that according to the guidelines those buses would have to be operated within 20-km distance (in one way from starting point to end point) every 15 minutes.
The Divisional Controller said that he had deputed two teams to survey roads for operating the buses. Permission of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) would be sought for operating the buses both from the State Bank of India bus terminal and KSRTC’s bus stand at Bejai.
Mr. Mahesh said that the KSRTC would invite bids soon for the supply of buses.
Depots
He said that the government had sanctioned Rs. 6 crore to each of the two depots proposed to accommodate the buses.
In Mangalore, the KSRTC depot in Kuntikana would be expanded to 1.5 acres and would be concreted. Bids for taking up the work would be invited next month. Mr. Mahesh said that the depot at Udupi would be expanded to 2.6 acres.
Connectivity boost
- Estimated cost of 65 buses is Rs. 18.85 crore
- Centre will share 80 per cent of the cost, State 20 per cent
- They will be green in colour
- Each bus will indicate passengers the stop through LED display
- The coastal cities getting fund for the first time under JNNURM
- Mangalore, Udupi among 30 cities in State which get buses
