Govt may sanction funds for release of 20 KTC buses
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JUNE 25
Goa government may salvage the second installment of Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited’s (KTCL) 20 buses, which are lying idle at private depots due to the non payments of funds.
It may be recall that KTCL had obtained 20 Kadamba buses under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, this year. As per report, Rs 3.8 crore is awaited to commission these buses.
“If the corporation demands then we can release the funds worth Rs 3.8 crore as installments to those 20 buses,” senior transport ministry official said.
He said that the funds under JNNURM were assured on a condition that the beneficiaries will execute certain reforms like having parking and advisory policy for the state, which Goa could not adhere due to its non metropolitan status.
“The failure to execute these reforms forced Centre not to release funds,” he said.
KTCL chairman Deepak Dhavlikar had earlier said that he will take up the issue with the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Transport Minister Ramkrishna Dhavlikar and will request them to release funds.
“In future when we receive the funds from the Centre, the same will be diverted to the state government,” he had said.
Under JNNURM, the KTCL had rejuvenated its fleet with the induction of 30 buses, which started running the state routes last year.
These new 20 buses are low floor buses with additional 10 seats (31-seater) and will provide shuttle services to the travellers. The low floor buses will facilitate the aged people and partially disabled to board them without any hassles. These buses will have special seating arrangements for students.
