The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : MTC felicitates 46 drivers for conservation of fuel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 24, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

MTC felicitates 46 drivers for conservation of fuel

Staff Reporter

Stalin presents certificates, awards; flags off 25 new buses

— Photo: R. Ragu

BRAND NEW: Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin, flanked by Transport Minister K.N. Nehru (right) and Backward Classes Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam, in one of the new buses that he flagged off in Chennai on Tuesday.

CHENNAI : The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) on Tuesday felicitated 46 drivers for economical use of fuel. The drivers achieved per-litre mileage of 5.8 to 6 kilometres beating the transport corporation's target of 4.5 kmpl.

The Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin distributed certificates and gifts to the drivers after flagging off 25 new vestibule buses at the Anna Square bus terminus. Transport Minister K.N. Nehru and the Backward Classes Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam were present.

In a brief address, Mr.Nehru said the MTC had added 450 new buses over the past few months. Most of the buses are replacements for old vehicles. He added that the government was planning a substantial addition to the fleet. "The government plans to add 1,000 buses by the year-end to meet the demand. MTC will also be launching special services to the IT corridor and `point-to-point' services along certain routes." Mr. Nehru said 75 more vestibule buses would be added in the coming months.

Senior MTC officials said the Corporation had carried out a sustained fuel conservation drive in recent days. The average mileage achieved by drivers was around 4.2 km per litre of diesel.

Other directives

Among several other directives, drivers have been asked to change gears for appropriate speeds, switch off the engine during prolonged stoppages at traffic junctions, and avoid unnecessary braking.

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