Ramalinga Reddy assures free bus travel for women of the state

BENGALURU: Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy who held a meeting with the managing directors of the four transport corporations in the state on Tuesday, said there is no doubt in the implementation of free bus service for women of the state, which is one of the major Congress five guarantees. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will make an official announcement on June 1, he said.

Ramalinga Reddy collected detailed information about total expenses, profit, loss and total wages, annual income, number of passengers, number of buses with the corporations. The MDs and officials of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), NWKRTC (North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation) and KKRTC (Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation) participated in the meeting.

Addressing a press conference, Ramalinga Reddy said the transport corporation officials have given three or four options. “Free bus pass for all women was the Congress manifesto. We will submit a report during the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. There is no doubt about implementation of free bus travel guarantee for women”, he said.

Talking about free bus service for women, Minister Reddy said the transport corporations will require an additional Rs 3,200 crore every year to provide free bus service for women. The total annual revenue of the four transport corporations is Rs 8,946 crore. There are 240 depots in the four transport corporations with a total of 21,574 vehicles. A total of 82.51 lakh passengers travel every day in the state and more than 4,500 buses will be added this year to the transport corporations, he said.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy holds the first meeting with transport corporations officers.

But, as of now, all four transport corporations are running under losses. Only if the government gives subsidy, they will be able implement the scheme. There was a huge loss during the pandemic year. Hence, some assets of the corporations were mortgaged against loans, Reddy added.

He further said that several other corporations owe crores to the four transport corporations. At the same time, the officials have highlighted the ground reality that providing free bus service would be a financial burden in the present situation.

Reddy further said another meeting will be held at the government level on Wednesday at noon to discuss about the guarantees. “The manifesto does not mention whether the free bus travel is for women from BPL or APL families. We provide the facility to all women. The Congress will not give BJP a chance us on over the guarantees”, he added.