Hike in bus fare is inevitable: Minister DC Thammanna
Bus fare likely to be hiked for New year
Bengaluru, December 27: Transport Minister DC Thammanna said that as the transport corporations were incurring losses due to repeated increase in petroleum prices, it was inevitable for the government to hike the bus fares.
Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha here on Thursday, the Minister said that shortly he would submit a proposal to the Chief Minister on hiking bus fare in KSRTC and BMTC buses. Recently, a proposal was submitted to hike 17 per cent bus fare. But the CM had withheld the proposal. The bus fare was hiked in 2013 when diesel price was Rs 53 per litre. Till now, the bus fare was not hiked, he said.
Because of diesel price hike, the government has been incurring Rs 677 crore loss annually. When proposal was submitted for 18 per cent hike, diesel price was Rs 74 per litre and now, the price was decreased to Rs 70 per litre. Even then, the corporations were under loss. Though it was not aimed at bringing the loss-making public sector transportation corporations, the CM would be requested once again to approve the proposal to hike the bus fare, he said.
GPS compulsory to private buses too
Like KSRTC buses, he has directed all private bus operators to install GPS equipment compulsorily. While plying on certain routes, the buses should not be stopped to get passengers wherever they want, he said.
Purchasing new buses
Total 7000 new buses including 4000 for KSRTC and 3000 for BMTC would be purchased for the corporation, the Minister said.
Most of the buses in the corporation were not in good condition. New buses would be commissioned in place of them. It was decided to purchase pollution-free buses to protect the environment in Bengaluru city, he said.
"After coalition government came to power in the state, steps were taken to fill vacancies in the department. The process of filling total 300 RTO was on".
- DC Thammanna, Transport Minister
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ISRO, TIFR sign MoU for collaboration in space science, tech, exploration
Bengaluru (PTI): In a landmark event for India's space exploration programme, ISRO on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with TIFR for scientific collaboration in the domain of space science, technology, and exploration, the space agency said.
The signing ceremony took place at ISRO Headquarters here, and was presided over by the space agency's Chairman V Narayanan.
In a statement, ISRO said that this event marks a historical milestone, as it establishes the formal framework for scientific collaboration between ISRO and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, organisations that have shared an "umbilical" relationship in space sciences for over several decades.
"While TIFR played a critical role in the formative days of the Indian space programme through early balloon experiments and mission-specific partnerships like AstroSat, this MoU provides a structured multi-year collaboration in ground and space-based scientific exploration of the outer space," the space agency said.
ISRO Chairman Narayanan in his presidential address stated that this MoU bridges a critical gap in the formal framework for science collaboration.
He highlighted that India is entering an era where science extends to exoplanetary study and the development of several national capabilities.
Collaboration between ISRO and TIFR would facilitate the materialisation of the nation's target to achieve excellence in space science in the global arena.
Ganesh Pillai, Scientific Secretary, ISRO recalled TIFR's role as the "cradle of Indian space scientists," noting its pivotal contributions to the early day's of the country's space programme, which paved the way to TIFR's contributions to the AstroSat mission.
Jayaram Chengalur, Director, TIFR emphasised that the institute will leverage national space and ground-based technological capabilities to propose projects that translate fundamental scientific knowledge into tangible advancements aligned with national initiatives.
According to ISRO, this partnership significantly enhances India's might in space exploration by fostering a seamless pipeline between academic excellence and space infrastructure. By co-developing indigenous hardware and joint testing facilities, the MoU reduces dependency on foreign entities.
Furthermore, this collaboration ensures that joint activities will place India at the forefront of global fundamental space science, it added.
