Decision on free bus passes to students within a week: Minister
Bengaluru, July 18: Transport Minister DC Thammanna said that he would shortly meet Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and discuss issuing free bus passes to schools and college students.
Speaking to reporters at his officer at Vidhana Soudha here on Wednesday, the Minister said that Primary and Secondary Education Minister N Mahesh has already said that he would pay 25 per cent amount from the department for the free bus passes. The Transport department would pay 25 per cent amount and if the government paid remaining 50 per cent amount, the department would give free bus passes to all students. The CM was in New Delhi and soon after his return, he would discuss the issue and finalise it, he said.
He, along with the Education Minister would meet the Chief Minister and take a decision on issuing the free bus passes. The department would have burden of Rs 2000 crore if the free bus passes were distributed, he said.
Proposal to hike bus fare
Following diesel price hike, the department has a proposal to hike the bus fare of KSRTC, BMTC and other corporations by 20 per cent. But so far, no decision was taken. All transport corporations including KSRTC and BMTC have to pay the tax on diesel. With this, the state government would have around Rs 6000 crore revenue. Now, he would request the Chief Minister for Rs 1000 crore funds, he said.
Proposal for cess
The BBMP has been collecting cess for the development of roads and other infrastructure. On the same line, the government should take a decision to collect transportation cess. The BMTC has been striving hard to ensure good service to the people, he said.
Direct appointment
There were 400 posts were vacant in the department and a decision would be taken shortly on recruiting those posts through direct recruitment. Due to shortage of RTOs and traffic inspectors, the existing staff have to look after two-three offices, he said.
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Karnataka Maritime Board announces plans for Mangaluru Water Metro Project
Mangaluru (Karnataka), Nov 4: After being endowed with multi connectivity facilities like three national highways, port and airport, Mangaluru city is now looking at a significant move towards sustainable urban mobility as the Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB) has announced plans for the Mangaluru Water Metro Project (MWMP), officials said on Monday.
This ambitious initiative aims to transform public transportation in the state, utilising National Waterways to connect areas along the Nethravathi (NW-74) and Gurupura (NW-43) rivers, they said.
Set to become India's second-largest water transport system after Kochi, the project promises an eco-friendly, economical and efficient mode of travel, the officials said.
According to officials, the MWMP will connect isolated communities from Bajal to Maravoor, enhancing accessibility and promoting the holistic development of these regions. The initiative is expected to boost local livelihoods and improve the standard of living through integrated transport networks.
According to the project report available with PTI, the MWMP will be rolled out in phases, with the initial stretch covering 30 kilometres along the Nethravathi and Gurupura river backwaters.
The priority route, beginning at Bajal on the Nethravathi and extending to the Maravoor Bridge on the Gurupura, will feature around 17 modern Metro stations.
Key locations such as Someshwara Temple, Ullal and the New Mangalore Port are included in the proposed route. State-of-the-art electric and diesel catamaran boats will be deployed, equipped with essential amenities to ensure a high standard of comfort and operational efficiency.
A comprehensive Feasibility Report (FR) will assess the project's viability, presenting a detailed cost-benefit analysis, market potential, operational strategies and environmental considerations.
"The report will objectively evaluate the project's merits and challenges, providing crucial information for decision-makers, stakeholders and investors," they said.
Officials in the port and fisheries subdivision told PTI that key areas of analysis has been based on assessing the potential to decongest old port areas, exploring the feasibility of cargo movement using Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) water metros, examining water level variations influenced by tidal flows, integration with feeder services to ensure seamless last-mile connectivity, demand forecasts over a 25-year period, based on extensive socio-economic research of usage and utility of the MWMP.
The project's Terms of Reference (ToR) emphasise sustainable development, involving thorough site identification, user demand assessments and environmental impact studies. Comprehensive surveys such as LIDAR mapping, bathymetric studies and topographical analysis will ensure accurate planning and implementation, the officials told.
Furthermore, technical collaborations with national institutes of repute will support studies on wave tranquillity, vessel height clearance and infrastructure recommendations for jetties and repair facilities, they said.
A detailed environmental monitoring programme will assess air and water quality, noise levels and aquatic biodiversity in line with Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) guidelines, the officials added.
The officials of the Maritime Board said the MWMP promises significant economic and environmental benefits, from easing traffic congestion to reducing air pollution. The project will also explore non-fare revenue streams and develop models to ensure financial sustainability.
A socio-economic impact assessment will measure the project's contribution to regional development, backed by projected revenue from passenger fares and ancillary services, a senior official said.
The Board also aims at championing cleaner and greener transportation and to set a precedent for sustainable urban mobility, positioning Mangaluru as a progressive city that leverages its waterways, he added.
