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Pic Credit: Upendra Naik
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KTC gets a boost, adds
23 new buses to its fleet
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The Goan Network
PANAJI
Goa’s public transport got a boost on Thursday when Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) got 23 buses delivered from Automobile Corporation of Goa (ACGL). ACGL, which is a subsidiary of Tata Motors, manufactured all these 23 buses in Goa itself.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar flagged off the new buses in a high profile ceremony which saw the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza, Panaji MLA Sidharth Kuncalienker, Chairman of KTC Carlos Almeida and Vernon Noronha, vice president, defence and government business of Tata Motors.
These buses were a part of larger order for 43 buses which was placed by KTC. KTC has placed this order under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) phase-II.
Highlighting the efforts taken to reform KTC in recent times, Almeida said, “In the last financial year, KTC’s revenue was up 12-13%. The chief minister has allocated money for KTC under the budget. We think we will be debt free in two years’ time.”
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said, “KTC is close to the heart of the government. Last year, investments in KTC were to the tune of Rs 51.95 crore, which have been increased to Rs 150 crore this year through a budgetary provision. KTC is the first agency in the country to avail of this facility under JNNURM scheme. The new buses have been introduced just before the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi to help people."
These buses are connected through GPRS (general packet radio services) and GPS (global positioning system) to the central control room server, which will help KTC in realigning bus routes basis occupancy rate. The buses also have LED destination boards on which the updated routes can be displayed. Apart from these 23 buses, KTC was also delivered with 6 air-conditioned buses manufactured in Hyderabad.
Tata Motors has actually got a huge order for 3,400 such buses to be supplied to corporations across the country and hence is at the forefront on revamping the state of affairs with public transport.
