The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Additional buses for city routes, says Nehru

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 06, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Additional buses for city routes, says Nehru

Special Correspondent

Crew availability poor due to ban on recruitments

CHENNAI: Transport Minister K.N. Nehru informed the Assembly on Friday that 200 to 300 buses would be introduced on city routes additionally over the next 20 to 30 days. Replying to a supplementary during question hour, Mr. Nehru said that the MTC had a fleet of around 2,700 buses.

Because of the privatisation policy announced by the previous government and because no new recruitment was made, about 1,000 were working in the workshop. Crew availability was poor because of the ban on recruitments.

Only 1,800 buses were operational during the previous regime. With the change in government, the transport department was provided with Rs.23.5 crore for procurement of spares. Across the State there were around 18,000 buses. Of these, as many as 9,000 had to be replaced. Between 1996 and 2001, buses were being replaced on a regular basis.

Only 3,000 new buses were bought, during the previous regime. The former Transport Minister and the AIADMK MLA, R Viswanathan objected to this and tried to defend the previous government. Higher Education Minister K.Ponmudi interrupted him.

`No long answers'

At this, the AIADMK members were on their feet, shouting. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said that during question hour members could not give long winding explanations, only ask a question. He requested the cooperation of all, including the Ministers for conducting the proceedings smoothly.

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