Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday flagged off 100 newly designed ''Ashwamedha Classic'' point-to-point express buses here.
Launched by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), these newly inducted buses, which are upgraded versions of Karnataka 'Sarige' non-AC buses, will operate on point-to-point routes between the district headquarters and Bengaluru, officials said.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy were among those present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that 5,800 buses will be added to the fleet of state transport units in the current financial year.
ALSO READ: Cong govt's protest in Delhi against "injustice" to State, not against BJP: CM Siddaramaiah
He also noted that the KSRTC has brought in many passenger-friendly schemes.
According to KSRTC officials, the newly inducted buses have front and rear LED destination boards, dashboard, electronic vehicle stability control, vehicle location track unit, panic buttons and public address system among other salient features.
KSRTC has planned to induct 948 new Diesel and 300 Electric buses in the current financial year. Till December-end, it has added a total of 180 buses (153 Diesel and 27 Electric).
ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @siddaramaiah ಅವರು ಇಂದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರಾಜ್ಯ ರಸ್ತೆ ಸಾರಿಗೆ ನಿಗಮದ ವತಿಯಿಂದ ವಿಧಾನಸೌಧದ ಮುಂಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಯೋಜಿಸಲಾಗಿದ್ದ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ "100 ಹೊಸ ವಿನ್ಯಾಸದ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸಾರಿಗೆ ಬಸ್ಸುಗಳ ( ಅಶ್ವಮೇಧ - ಪಾಯಿಂಟ್ ಟು ಪಾಯಿಂಟ್ ಎಕ್ಸ್ಪ್ರೆಸ್ ) ಬಸ್ಸುಗಳನ್ನು ಲೋಕಾರ್ಪಣೆ ಮಾಡಿದರು. pic.twitter.com/HLC9PbRhrw
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) February 5, 2024
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Chandigarh, Jan 7: Punjab farmer leaders on Tuesday said if something untoward happens to Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is sitting on a fast-unto-death, then the Centre may not be able to handle the situation which could arise thereafter.
Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar stressed that the Centre should resolve the farmers' issues in a serious manner.
According to farmers, Dallewal's health is "deteriorating" each passing day and "anything can happen to him".
Dallewal, 70, who is the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), has been on the indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana since November 26 over farmers' various demands including a legal guarantee of the minimum support price for crops.
Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death entered 43rd day on Tuesday, has so far refused to take any medical aid.
Addressing the media, Dr Avtar Singh, who is part of a team from NGO '5 Rivers Heart Association' said Dallewal's health condition worsened on Monday evening.
His blood pressure dropped and he vomited while lying on the bed, said the doctor.
His condition is deteriorating every day and anything can happen to him, he said.
Meanwhile, a team of government doctors also examined Dallewal at the Khanauri border.
Farmers said Dallewal's condition remained critical on Tuesday and that he was not able to talk to anyone.
Farmer leader Kohar said, "God forbid if anything untoward happens to Dallewal ji, then perhaps the situation may not remain under control of the Central government."
The Centre should make efforts so that the situation does not reach that level, he said.
"If anything happens to Dallewal, then there will be a 'blot' on the tenure of the present government at the Centre which may never be cleaned," said Kohar.
Lashing out at the Union government, he said it never happened even during the British rule that when a person is sitting on fast-unto-death and the government is not paying any attention to him.
Speaking about the next programmes, Kohar said effigies of the BJP government will be burnt on January 10 throughout the country against the Centre's attitude towards the demands of farmers.
"Dallewal is fighting to save the future of the country's farmers," he said.
The draft policy on 'National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing' will be burnt on January 13, he said.
On January 26, tractors of farmers will be on the roads across the country, he further said.
Farmers, under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13, after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.
On Monday, a Supreme Court-appointed panel met Dallewal and urged him to take medical aid. He has so far refused to take medical assistance, offered by the Punjab government following the apex court's directions.