Smart City Mission: KSRTC demands funds for bus stand

Mangaluru: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) chairman M Chandrappa said he will put pressure on the authorities concerned to sanction Rs 100 crore for the development of a state-of-the-art KSRTC bus stand in Mangaluru.
Referring to the Rs 126-crore bus stand project sanctioned through the Smart City Mission in Davanagere, Chandrappa said no funds have been earmarked under the Smart City Mission in Mangaluru. He said the Mangaluru division has eight-acre land in its possession to develop a state-of-the-art bus stand for the convenience of the people.
“I will request the authorities of the Smart City Mission to earmark at least Rs 100 crore for the bus stand in Mangaluru. In Davangere, Rs 100 crore was earmarked under Smart City Mission and Rs 26 crore was released by the KSRTC. Meanwhile, in Tumkur, Rs 84 crore was earmarked for a bus stand to be built under the Smart City Mission,” he told reporters here on Tuesday.
Free passes for workers
The KSRTC has started issuing free bus passes to construction workers engaged in building and other construction work. The pass allows them to travel a distance of 45 kms from the point they board a bus free of cost. While there are nearly 37 lakh labourers in the state, the labour department has issued passes for one lakh labourers, he said, adding that all registered labourers will be given passes in a phased manner.
In Mangaluru division, which includes Mangaluru, Udupi, Kundapur regions, 672 applications for passes were received. While 296 passes are ready, 376 passes are pending at the printing stage.
The Puttur division, including Puttur, Madikeri, Sullia, B C Road and Dharmasthala regions, has received 1,268 applications for passes. While 366 cards are ready, 902 passes will be printed soon, he said.
Package tours
KSRTC chairman Chandrappa said the KSRTC Mangaluru division has been asked to introduce package tours during weekends to connect the major temples in the region. At least five to 10 KSRTC buses will operate under the package tours in the division.
“More buses will be operated based on the response,” he said, adding that the success of the Mangaluru Dasara Darshana tour package has prompted the KSRTC to introduce more package tours. The Mangaluru division will conduct tour packages for Deepavali from October 21 to 27. Package tours will also be introduced in Puttur division if there is demand from the public, he added.