BIJAPUR: Transport Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy said here on Friday that 4,000 new buses would be added to different road transport corporations under the department every year.

The Minister, who inaugurated the Rs. 4.5-crore bus terminus commissioned by North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), said it was a part of the many measures initiated by the department to compete with private operators.

Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy said his Ministry would not discriminate either against NWKRTC or North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC).

The two corporations would be treated on par with Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation in development. The NWKRTC would have 1,000 new buses this year, he said and added that the Government had approved the proposal.

He said it had been decided to have well-equipped bus stands and bus depots in all taluk and districts headquarters. Construction and upgrading would be taken up wherever necessary, and the task would be accomplished in three years.

Providing quality service was the motto of the department, which had adopted professional management practices. It had helped put the corporations on the recovery path, he said.

He said the new Government had shown how development could be ensured at a fast pace. Revenue collection had improved and it had helped take up many additional development works worth over Rs. 800 crore.

The Minister, who conferred silver medals on accident-free drivers and scandal-free conductors, allayed the fear of employees and said the Government was committed to safeguard their interests.

However, all could not receive medals from the Minister as his helicopter was to take off before 3.30 p.m. on his way back to Bangalore.

MLA Appasaheb Pattanashetti, who presided over the function, said the new terminus would go long way in providing good service to the passengers.

Managing Director of NWKRTC S.K. Paramesh welcomed the gathering. Divisional Controller N.K. Bhat proposed a vote of thanks.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Water Resources and district in-charge Minister K.S. Eshwarappa and MP and former Union Minister Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal could not attend.

Also, Congress MLAs and MLCs whose name figured in the list of invitees were not present.

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