KSRTC to buy diesel buses; minibuses on rural routes; incentives for green autos

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSRTC will buy only diesel buses. A total of 370 new buses, including 220 minibuses and 150 fast and super-fast buses, will be procured. Addressing a press conference yesterday, Minister Ganesh Kumar said that all buses that are being purchased are diesel buses. The minister said that the buses will be on the roads as soon as the funds are available.

"The company has informed that up to 30 buses can be lent as loan. Necessary services will be arranged for the Sabarimala pilgrimage. It is a fact that there are no new buses. Four lakh kilometres of no income across the state have been reduced. The daily collection is targeted at nine crore. The collection has crossed eight crore," he said.

Mini buses on rural route

Mini buses with 40-42 seats will be used for rural routes. New services will be started from Nedumbassery airport to Kottarakkara and Kozhikode. It has also been decided to purchase 30 AC sleeper and semi-sleeper buses.

Incentives for green autos

"Old city permits will not be issued to those who buy new auto-rickshaws in place of the old ones but those who switch to electric and CNG can continue with the old permit," the minister said. A subsidy of Rs 30,000 each has been sanctioned for e-autos. The minister also said that 1,000 autorickshaws have been given subsidy.