THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The fund for a special bus for the chief minister and ministers to travel during Nava Kerala Sadas, has been granted. An amount of Rs 1 crore 5 lakh has been allocated for the bus with all luxurious facilities. The money has been released by the finance department bypassing the treasury control. A 25-seater bus of Benz Company has been granted. The bus from Bengaluru has been handed over to KSRTC after renovation.

Meantime, Transport Minister Antony Raju has come forward saying that allowing buses is not a luxury. He added that the news that the bus is being modified is baseless and traveling in that bus is to avoid traffic jams. There will be 75 vehicles including 21 ministers and their escort. The minister responded that this bus can avoid congestion. Traveling by bus is economical. He said the bus can be used as part of budget tourism. He explained that the construction of the bus is not at a secret centre. The Nava Kerala Sadas is from November 18 to December 24.

Earlier, there were many allegations regarding the amount spent by the government in connection with Keraleeyam. The Nava Kerala Sadas is also stoking a controversy. The registrar of co-operatives directing the co-operative organisations to find money for the Nava Kerala Sadas had led to a big controversy.

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala reacted against the luxury bus for the chief minister and ministers to travel. Chennithala said that arranging a luxury Benz 'Caravan' for the chief minister and ministers to travel will be a boomerang for the government itself. It is not surprising that the chief minister, who spends crores and travels in a helicopter, arriving in a luxurious Benz caravan to meet the common people. Only a dictator like Pinarayi Vijayan can do that. One should see how the people will receive the chief minister and ministers on a pleasure trip to see Kerala when the people are suffering every day without even getting pension and due to price rise.