Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday launched 50 ‘small buses’ for Chennai which will link areas with poor bus connectivity in the city and its suburbs.
Ms. Jayalalithaa launched the small bus services at a function held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here.
She said the main aim of starting the services was to help residents in localities with poor bus connectivity reach the nearest bus stop or railway station.
This will not overlap with the existing bus services, according to officials.
Speaking on the occasion, she said that when she took charge as Chief Minister, the transport corporations were in a financially weak condition, facing a loss of Rs.6,150.95 crore.
Her government took steps to procure 6,000 new buses at a cost of Rs.1,026 crore. Out of this, 3,051 buses were already plying.
Besides, a total of 483 buses that were in running condition were upgraded at a cost of Rs.34 crore.
The Chief Minister said steps were being taken to set up 68 depots to maintain State Transport Corporation buses.
“In the last two years, the transport corporations have earned revenue of Rs.28.13 crore through advertisements placed on buses, Rs.44.12 lakh from postal services and Rs. 4.67 crore from motels,” she said.
She also launched 610 new buses for different transport corporations in the State.
She further added that another State-run mineral water unit, with a capacity of three lakh litres of drinking water per day, would soon be set up.
The location was not revealed. The first such unit, with the same capacity, was inaugurated on September 15 in Gummidipoondi. During the function, she distributed pension benefits to the tune of Rs.257 crore to retired employees of different transport corporations in the State.
