KSRTC to add 3,000 new buses this year

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has planned to add 3,000 buses to its fleet during the current year. The buses would be operated in rural areas, Minister for Transport and Home R Ashok said here at the weekend.

Talking to reporters, he said KSRTC reported a net profit of Rs 65 crore for the last fiscal-ended March 31, 2011, and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) registered Rs 50 crore profit. He said both corporations have wiped off accumulated losses and have posted profits.

The profits would be utilised for creating additional infrastructure like bus terminals and services to new areas. The BMTC has proposed to build a bus terminus and transit hotel near the Bangalore International Airport, he said. “We have procured two acres and 23 guntas of land there. We have already paid Rs 2.25 crore. The transit hotel would be built to help the passengers arriving during the night time,” he said.

However, he did not reveal the cost of the project.