Ageing bus fleets to get BS-VI vehicles as replacement

Athikadavu-Avinashi scheme will be launched, says Governor

Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Wednesday told the Assembly that a comprehensive restructuring programme for State-run transport corporations would be introduced with the support of the German bilateral financing agency KfW.

“This would involve replacement of the ageing fleet with fuel efficient BS-VI buses and procurement of environment-friendly electric buses in metro cities like Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai,” he said.

Besides, a comprehensive Athikadavu-Avinashi scheme, aimed at recharging groundwater and augmenting water supply in Coimbatore, Erode and Tirupur districts at a cost of ₹1,652 crore to benefit 24,468 acres of cultivated lands, would be launched very soon by the Chief Minister, the Governor said.

On the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, the Governor said: “Higher education institutions should be headed by competent and talented Vice-Chancellors to improve the quality of teaching and research to international standards. Accordingly, this government is adopting a transparent selection procedure in appointing Vice-Chancellors. Similarly the vacancies in the syndicate of Universities are being filled up promptly.”

Boosting literacy

Since literacy among tribal communities is significantly lower than the State average, the Governor announced that the government would soon launch a scheme to extend financial support to non-governmental organisations for opening schools in interior tribal areas.

The Governor urged the Centre to expedite the implementation of the defence industrial production corridor project.

The establishment of industrial hubs for defence products in the Chennai-Vellore-Salem-Hosur-Coimbatore-Tiruchi corridor will definitely improve the prospects of Tamil Nadu as a major defence manufacturing force, he added.

The first phase of upgrading 1,436 km of roads at a cost of ₹608 crore was under progress and the second phase to upgrade 1,538 km of roads at a cost of ₹882 crore had been sanctioned by the State government this year.

An international conference to promote Tamil language and culture once in two years, rolling out a new startup and innovation policy, a new aerospace and defence industrial policy were among the announcements made by the Governor in the House.