The Hindu : Front Page : 5,000 new buses to be introduced this year

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 08, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

5,000 new buses to be introduced this year

Staff Reporter

BOOSTING MORALE: Transport Minister K.N. Nehru giving away a prize to a driver in Tiruchi on Sunday. Forests Minister N. Selvaraj, second from right, is also seen. — Photo: R. Ashok

TIRUCHI: Five thousand new buses will be introduced in the State this year and all the old buses will be replaced subsequently, Transport Minister K.N. Nehru has said.

Speaking at the valediction of Road Safety Week here on Sunday, he said that within four months of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam assuming power, 400 new buses were introduced in Chennai. The Government planned to increase the fleet strength of State Transport Corporations in phases.

On the dearth of TNSTC employees, he said that 8,000 drivers and conductors would be recruited this year, followed by more technical and non-technical staff. He promised to announce "good news" to the employees after the Assembly meeting. He said the Government would take a liberal view on appointment on compassionate grounds.

The transport ministry would reassign drivers suffering from cervical problems with suitable work. A sum of Rs. 3.5 crore would be spent on improving traffic signal system in Tiruchi, he said.

The Inspector General of Police, Central Zone, M.S. Jaffar Sait, stressed on the need for systematic counselling for employees and frequent traffic awareness workshops for students. Pointing to the relative decrease in accident rates in the region this year, Mr. Sait said that regular conduct of training camps for drivers would further bring down road accidents.Earlier, Forest Minister N. Selvaraj and Mr. Nehru honoured drivers with a record of nil accidents with prizes. They also distributed prizes to winners of various competitions conducted as part of the Road Safety Week celebrations.

The District Revenue Officer, R. Lily, and the Managing Director of TNSTC (Kumbakonam), S. Kothandapani, were present.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page