The Puducherry Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) has now received 25 new buses to replace old ones. In addition, they have also received 14 new buses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission scheme.
They have planned to flag off all the new buses on January 18, a PRTC official said.
Under the JNNURM Scheme, the PRTC was due to receive a total of 40 buses. They received 26 buses in 2010, and the remaining 14 were received recently. Routes for these buses are still in the proposal stage. However, authorities are planning to operate two buses to the airport, two buses from Chinna Veerampattinam to the RTO, and two town buses for Karaikal.
The 25 buses acquired by the PRTC will be replacing old buses, including nine vehicles operating to Chennai on ECR, two buses to Chennai on the Tindivanam route, one bus from Puducherry to Karaikal, three buses from Karaikal to Chennai, two buses from Karaikal to Chidambaram, two buses from Karaikal to Neyveli and two buses from Karaikal to Mayiladuthurai, one bus from Puducherry to Velankanni. Three buses will be used as spare vehicles, the official said.
All buses have been obtained from Ashok Leyland, with the body building being done at TVR Coach factory in Karur.
The buses bought by the PRTC cost Rs. 22 lakh each, while buses under the JNNURM were booked earlier and cost of Rs. 23 lakh each.
Chief Minister N. Rangasamy was expected to flag off the new buses, the official said.
