Karnataka: 3,400 state-run buses to hit the road soon

BENGALURU: In a relief for passengers travelling in state-run buses, 3,389 more will be inducted in the next few months.
Of these, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will induct 1,209 buses and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will add 1,200. The other state-run transport corporations will together induct the remaining 980 buses (NWKRTC:642, NEKRTC:338).
Out of the total number, 2,161 buses will be purchased from the market, while the remaining will be built at the workshops of these corporations with procured chassis. Tenders have already been floated.
KSRTC officials said they will get 203 fully built buses for mofussil routes, 115 for its Rajahamsa service, 75 non-AC sleeper buses, 35 multi-axle AC seaters, 16 multi-axle AC sleepers and 15 12M AC seater buses.
In February, KSRTC floated a tender for all these buses on behalf of all corporations. Managing director Shivayogi C Kalasad said tenders are under evaluation and will be finalised in a few weeks. Asked about a National Green Tribunal (NGT) stay on BMTC from adding new diesel buses, he said these are BS-IV environmental-friendly diesel ones.
However, the Centre will upgrade the emission standard from the existing BS-IV to BS-VI from April 2020. Separately, all four corporations have decided to procure mechanical mobile recovery vans.