Town/city bus services will be kicked off in all district headquarters, revitalisation package implemented in the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), and accident review committees set up at the district- and State-level, Minister for Finance K.M. Mani has said.
Presenting the Budget for 2012-13 in the Assembly on Monday, Mr. Mani said a sum of Rs.125 crore had been provided for the KSRTC for next year. The revitalisation package was aimed at wiping out the losses of the State-owned corporation and improving its efficiency and financial health.
Mr. Mani said computerisation would be implemented in the KSRTC this year. All workshops would be modernised, and computer and electronic gadgets made available. The Global Positioning System would be implemented in the corporation in a phased manner.
An inter-State and inter-district terminal would be constructed at Enchakkal in the State capital. Shopping complexes would be constructed at eight depots. A new depot would be set up at Konni and a new bus terminal at Idukki.
As part of women's empowerment, the KSRTC would set up exclusive rest rooms for women in bus stations and make available drinking water and toilet facilities in them.
Water transport
The State Water Transport Department would get modern steel boats, Mr. Mani said. A new boat for tourists and another workshop boat would be purchased. Workshops would be modernised. A slipway-cum-workshop with dry dock facilities would be constructed at Ponjikkara for the maintenance of boats.
Road safety
Mr. Mani said State- and district-level accident review committees would be set up to detect causes of accidents and recommend preventive steps. Driver testing tracks being implemented in two districts would be provided in another three cities. The radar surveillance system of the Motor Vehicles Department would be extended to all districts.
Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centres would be set up in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Thrissur to examine the fitness of vehicles.
A driving training research centre was being set up at Edappal in Malappuram district with the assistance of the Union government to improve driving habits.
Mr. Mani said a postgraduate course in road safety would be introduced at Sree Chithra Thirunal Engineering College in Thiruvananthapuram.
