BANGALORE: The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is expecting to add 300 new buses to its fleet from funds under Jawaharalal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Home and Transport Minister R Ashok told reporters that the Union government had given in principle approval to the State’s demand for more JNNURM funds to purchase new buses.
“There is a lot of unutilised funds available under the JNNURM scheme and we have asked the Centre to divert a part of it to the state. Since the state’s record in executing JNNURM works is exemplary, we are hoping to get at least 300 buses though we have demanded for 500 buses,” Ashok said.
The State government had also requested the Union government to relax JNNURM norms so that more cities could be included in the scheme. As of now only cities with a population of over 10 lakh were eligible for JNNURM funds.
“We want it to be reduced to two lakh,” Ashok informed. Stating that the Transport Department had introduced several measures to improve mass transport, Ashok said that all JNNURM buses would be fitted with GPS system to track their movements. In order to make long-distance journeys more comfortable, the department is planning to introduce 40 non-AC sleeper buses soon, Ashok said.
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