The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Jaipal Reddy flags off new set of BMTC buses

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Sunday, Nov 15, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Jaipal Reddy flags off new set of BMTC buses

Staff Reporter

Rs. 3,550 crore sanctioned for 54 projects in Bangalore

— Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

FOR COMFY RIDE: Union Minister for Urban Development S. Jaipal Reddy and Minister for Transport R. Ashok launching a new set of 380 buses of the BMTC on Saturday.

BANGALORE: Union Ministry of Urban Development will be providing 15,260 buses across 61 cities under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Flagging off 380 out of the 1,000 buses sanctioned to Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), Union Minister for Urban Development S. Jaipal Reddy said there was a pressing need to enhance the quality of public transport to address the growing traffic chaos in urban centres.

The Centre, which earmarked Rs. 1 lakh crore for implementation of JNNURM over the next seven years, has sanctioned Rs. 3,550 crore for 54 projects in Bangalore, he said. “The assistance given by the Union Ministry for the introduction of buses in Bangalore was not originally conceived, but I approached the Prime Minister and told him that our urban areas need stronger public transport,” he said.

Mr. Reddy said except for spare parts, these buses would be manufactured in India and would “generate employment” for a large number of people. “We have sanctioned some flyovers, although I don’t approve of them,” he said and added that building flyovers across the city would not necessarily solve the problems of mounting traffic.

“People have high aspirations and they would continue to buy vehicles,” he said.

Mr. Reddy said that the Union Ministry would take care of 50 per cent of the cost of the Namma Metro project, which would be Rs. 6,000 crore.

“We will do this through equity participation, subordinate loans and soft loans from Japanese sources with only 1.5 per cent interest to be retrieved over 20 years,” he added.

The Minister said that the Urban Development Ministry envisioned building a metro rail throughout the country in cities with more than a population of two million. “It will mean spending lakhs or crores, but it is important,” he said.

He said that investing in urban missions was essential. “Right now, I am replacing pipelines laid by the British in Kolkata and Mumbai. About 100 years ago they must have made a huge investment, and now it is our turn,” he added.

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