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New buses for Uttarakhand

DEHRA DUN: The Uttarakhand Government has sanctioned Rs.19 crore for purchase of new buses to improve road connectivity and ensure safe travel in the hills.

Announcing this here over the weekend, Transport Minister Bansidhar Bhagat said the step would go a long way in meeting the increased passenger load on most routes. The presence of more State Transport Corporation buses would also help in curbing the risk of rash driving and accidents caused by private vehicles plying recklessly in the high hills, he said.

The Corporation is also going to recruit 500 more conductors, drivers and clerks. The drivers would be recruited through the drivers’ training centre.

The Government will establish an Inter-State Bus Terminus at Haldwani soon. Steps have been initiated to build a road to connect Kumaon and Garhwal divisions through the Corbett National Park. “This road will have flyovers at points used as corridors by the animals, so that the wildlife does not get disturbed by the vehicular traffic,” the Minister said.

Wildlife lovers, however, have opposed the plan to lay a highway through the Corbett Park arguing that the ever increasing traffic will badly fragment the habitat and disturb the eco-system.

Instead of intruding into the Corbett National Park, the Government should develop the existing route, they said.

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New buses for Uttarakhand

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