Bangalore: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is ahead of other State transport corporations in all respects, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said on Tuesday.

He was speaking at a function organised to launch the KSRTC's 1,111th bus for 2005-06, an accident rescue wagon and a conference coach here.

The Chief Minister said the KSRTC authorities should identify routes where the number of students commuters is high and introduce more buses for them. "When I visited Puttenahalli recently, residents submitted a memorandum. One of the demands was introduction of special buses for students," he said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy directed Transport Minister N. Cheluvaraya Swamy and KSRTC officials to give disabled persons contracts for setting up shops and restaurants on important bus routes in the State.

"Earlier, the Government helped the disabled by allotting public call offices to them. But, with the advent of mobile phones, people do not use the PCOs as much as they did before," he said.

Mr. Cheluvaraya Swamy said the demand for Volvo services is increasing. Volvo buses will be provided for use in all district headquarters soon. The insurance scheme for KSRTC employees will be extended to all four corporations under the Transport Department, he added.

The department has decided to set up over 30 hotels and shops, and preference will be given to the disabled in the allotment of contracts, he said. He spoke about the benefits of the electronic ticketing machines installed in KSRTC buses.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare R. Ashok said: "The launch of the accident rescue wagon shows that the Transport Department is keen on serving the people."

Mayor of Bangalore Mumtaz Begum urged the Transport Department to station accident rescue wagons in all district headquarters.

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