Reforms to put KSRTC on the mend: Governor

A series of reform measures will be initiated in the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to improve finances and overall management of the utility, Governor H.R. Bhardwaj said on Friday.

In his address to the Assembly, Mr. Bhardwaj said the government had taken steps to devise strategies to find solution to the crisis the KSRTC was facing due to the withdrawal of subsidy on high speed diesel.

Mr. Bhardwaj said the key projects to be implemented in the KSRTC included computerisation, providing amenity centres to women at l0 stations, construction of terminal-cum-shopping complexes at six stations, and a modem training complex and new depot at Anayara in the State capital.

Stating that the government was giving importance for developing quality roads, the Governor said a study report of the City Road Improvement Projects in Kottayam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kannur would be completed in two months. Land acquisition for these road projects would start this year itself.

Priority would be given to constructing bypasses along national highways and steps would be taken to complete the pending works of the Kollam, Alappuzha, Kozhikode, and Thalassery-Mahe bypasses on a cost-sharing basis with the Union government.

Asserting that the government would consolidate the growth in the tourism sector, the Governor said the seaplane project would be operational during the current year and major tourism destinations would be developed comprehensively through master plans.

Two mega cultural hubs would be developed in Malabar to boost the tourism potential of the region. The Alappuzha Mega Backwater Tourism Circuit and North Kerala Mega Tourism Circuit would be developed with the support of the Central government.

Feasibility studies for the greenfield airport projects of ldukki and Wayanad had been completed and substantial progress was expected this year.

Efforts would be taken for the acquisition of land for further development of the Thiruvananthapurarn and Kozhikode airports with a suitable compensation and rehabilitation package for landholders.