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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Another leopard captured in Belthangadi, second in one month
Belthangadi: A leopard was captured in a cage set up by the forest department near the house of Gurikanda Ananda Shetty in Savanalu village late Friday night, September 20. This marks the second leopard capture in the village within a month.
The area has seen frequent leopard sightings over the past few months, leading to concerns among the residents. After a leopard was caught on September 1, the forest department had safely relocated it. However, another leopard reappeared in the village shortly afterward, preying on a domestic chicken, which led the residents to again request the forest department's intervention.
Responding to the request, forest officials reinstalled the cage last week, and the leopard was trapped around midnight. Villagers, now relieved, informed the forest department, which sent officials to examine the captured animal.
This is the second successful capture by the forest department in Savanalu within the past month.
