Bengaluru: This year, there is an increase of Rs. 131 crore in the collection of transport department compared to the previous year. The state road transport corporation should be able to deliver services by understanding passengers’ desires, noted Chief Minister H.D Kumaraswamy.

The CM also instructed to take steps to provide basic facilities to the passengers apart from only giving bus facilities. “Chalk out a plan to cover the losses of the department without burdening the passengers,” the Chief Minister instructed.

“Measures would be taken to increase the bus fares after taking the public opinion. He instructed the department officials to find an alternate route to cover the losses without increasing the bus fares,” Kumaraswamy said.

Transport Minister D.C.Tamanna, PWD Minister H.D Revanna, Minister for co-operation Bandeppa Kashempur, Chief Secretary Dr. T.M Vijaya Bhaskar, PS to CM Dr. E.V Ramana Reddy, and others were present.

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Kolkata (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate on Sunday conducted raids at the premises of Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas and a local businessman as part of a money laundering probe against an alleged criminal and his linked syndicate in the poll-bound state, officials said.

Two premises of Biswas, including his residence in Ballygunge area and one location of the businessman named Joy Kamdar, Managing Director of a company named Sun Enterprise, have been raided under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Kamdar has been taken by the officials to the local ED office for questioning. Biswas, chief coordinator and nodal officer of the West Bengal and Kolkata Police welfare committee, was not present at his premises, they said.

The action is linked to a money laundering case against an alleged local criminal named Biswajit Podder alias Sona Pappu, who is booked in multiple cases on charges of attempted murder and extortion.

The federal probe agency had conducted the first round of searches in this case on April 1.

The ED had then seized cash of Rs 1.47 crore apart from gold jewellery and silver valued at Rs 67.64 lakh and a country-made revolver from some premises that were searched.

The probe stems from a Kolkata Police FIR against against Podder for his alleged involvement in rioting, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and Arms Act violations. The accused, including Podder, were engaged in organised criminal syndicate activities in the state of West Bengal and generated funds illegally by way of syndicate operations, the ED said in a statement on April 9.

Podder is also wanted by the police in a case of violence in Kankulia road near Golpark of Kolkata and is currently on the run.

The ED has issued summons to Podder but he has failed to join the investigation so far, according to the agency.

West Bengal will have a two phase poll on April 23 and April 29.