Ker govt seeks more central funds for JNNURM buses

: Kerala Government has sought financial aid for Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) which runs buses provided under Union Government's Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) project.
"We have again presented some proposals to get some financial aid for this sector'', Kerala Transport Minister, A K Saseendran, said at an ASSOCHAM event held in New Delhi today.
In other 4 cities we are also trying to introduce the JNNURM buses, on that purpose we are asking the central government to give some financial help, said Saseendran while addressing an ASSOCHAM conference on 'Sustainable Urban Road Transport.
He said the state government has introduced bio-fuel in few petrol pumps to make public transport system economic and pollution-free.

"Now we are planning to introduce this in 69 centers in Kerala state", an ASSOCHAM press release said.
Saseendran informed that while metro rail in Kochi was expected to be commissioned within a year, land acquisition for light metro in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode had been initiated.

The establishment of suburban railway project is in the anvil, a legislation to establish a unified Metropolitan Transport Authority in state is in pipeline, he said.
Highlighting the importance of promoting freight movement through inland waterways, he said that the state government has initiated various projects for that purpose.
The state government had mooted to amend the Kerala Road Safety Authority Act, 2007 thereby satisfying various aspects of comprehensive mobility planning as the present law does not cater to various demands put forward by legislators and general public.

In due course, the public transport system in Kerala will be run by CNG and LNG fuels that are environment-friendly and cost effective.