BMTC demands to be favourably considered

BMTC demands to be favourably considered

The Hindu

BMTC Managing Director lists seven demands before the Chief Minister

BANGALORE: Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh on Tuesday assured the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) that the Government will favourably consider various demands of BMTC, including providing land at nominal prices, reduction in taxes, additional grants, dedicated bus lanes and the like.

Dedicating three Volvo buses for Bangalore city transport, Mr. Dharam Singh said the Government will help the public sector undertakings. Complimenting the BMTC for introducing buses with superior technology, the Chief Minister said more and more such buses should come on roads in order to decongest the city. He reiterated that Bangalore will soon have the Metro rail to smoothen the increasing demand for efficient public transport system.

Demands

Managing Director of BMTC Upendra Tripathy listed before the Chief Minister seven demands of the corporation. He said BMTC requires at least 300 acres of land for creation of additional infrastructure keeping in mind the city's growth for the next four decades. He said the motor vehicle tax and the sales tax have to be reduced, as they have become a heavy burden on the corporation, which is discharging its social obligation.

While thanking the government for granting Rs. 15 crores for procuring 25 Volvo buses, Mr. Tripathy urged Mr. Singh to provide an additional grants to procure another 25 Volvo buses during 2005-06, apart from Rs. 100 crores requested under infrastructure grants. He urged the Government to approve the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission Project proposal of Rs. 3,000 crores of BMTC to improve the urban transport infrastructure in the city. He requested the Government to sanction 15 per cent of its share for the project and forward the recommendation to the Ccentral government, while BTMC undertakes to contribute 50 per cent of the cost and the Government of India contributes 35 per cent.