Kannur(Keralam), Nov 9 (PTI) Keralam Transport Minister C P John on Monday said there was no need for concerns over the government decision to lease private buses for KSRTC services, saying that it will benefit both the state transport corporation and the vehicle owner.
John, speaking after receiving a cheque of Rs 45 lakh from the Asset Development Fund of MLA T O Mohanan to purchase buses, said that the private buses will be leased at a rate of Rs 50 per kilometer.
The vehicle owner will be responsible for the fuel and vehicle maintenance, the minister said.
“The project has been designed in a way that is beneficial for both the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and vehicle owners,” he said, adding that in this way, more buses will come to KSRTC and will help strengthen the public transport system.
John also said that anyone, including cooperative societies, can purchase buses and give them to KSRTC.
Regarding the state government’s Priyadarshini scheme, which provides free travel for women on KSRTC’s ordinary service buses, the minister said it was an initiative for women’s empowerment and not poverty alleviation.
He said that the common criticism regarding the scheme was that it did not take into account the income limit of women passengers.
“That is baseless. The sole aim behind the scheme was to include every woman in it. They can use the money saved from this for household needs,” he said.
The minister said that there are many reported instances of women passengers, who are government employees and others, spending the money they saved on travel for voluntary work in schools and other places.
He said that currently, 67 per cent of KSRTC buses in Keralam were Priyadarshini buses and daily tens of thousands of women use this service. PTI HMP ROH
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