BMTC adds 380 more buses to its fleet

BMTC adds 380 more buses to its fleet


Union Minister for Urban Development Jaipal Reddy flagging off 380 BMTC city buses at Shantinagar bus stand in Bangalore on Saturday.

Express News ServiceFirst Published : 15 Nov 2009 05:26:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 15 Nov 2009 07:56:40 AM IST
BANGALORE: The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) on Saturday inducted 380 city buses to its fleet under the assistance of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Scheme (JNNURM).
The buses were flagged off by Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy and state Transport Minister R Ashok at the BMTC Shantinagar Bus Stand premises.
BMTC managing director Syed Zameer Pasha said that the BMTC will be extending its operations up to the regions under the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) as well.
The 380 buses inducted included 111 Volvo buses, 203 Leyland buses and 66 Tata buses, which are environment and passenger-friendly, Pasha added.
The BMTC, established in August 15, 1997, has 5,610 buses under its fleet. Earlier, the BMTC was called the Bangalore Transport Company (established in 1940) that had a fleet of 113 buses.
Pasha said that the Union Ministry of Urban Development had accorded approval for the procurement of 1,000 buses by the BMTC under JNNURM at a cost of Rs 323.82 crore. “Out of which, 380 buses of three types were inducted and for the remaining 620 buses, the BMTC has already placed the purchase orders for their procurement,’’ he said.
He added that under the special package- 2 of JNNURM for 1,000 buses, the Centre is providing financial aid of Rs 113.34 crore (35 pc share), the state government is granting Rs 48.57 crore (15 pc share) and the remaining Rs 161.91 crore (50 pc) is being borne by the BMTC.
“Of the 1,000 buses, 700 would be of 900/850 mm floor height, 100 would be of 650 mm semi-low floor height and 200 buses would be of 400/390 mm low floor height,’’ Pasha said.