Bengaluru, May 17: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Laxman Savadi on Sunday wrote to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari requesting to issue new lockdown guidelines including permission to operate public transport and said the lockdown has caused a financial loss of Rs 16,00 crore to all four Karnataka Transport Undertakings.
In view of these problems, the state Transport Minister requested Gadkari to permit the deployment of Non-AC buses on scheduled routes to ensure the adequacy of services.
The four State Transport Undertakings (STUs) in Karnataka which are providing bus-based public transport services within the state and to the neighbouring states are Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).
"KSRTC, NWKRTC and NEKRTC operate buses for mofussil services i.e. Interdistrict, intradistrict and interstate, whereas BMTC operates only in urban and suburban areas in the city of Bengaluru. The four STUs put together hold a fleet of about 24,900 buses including 1,520 air-conditioned buses and operate about 71.00 lakh km. per day and carries about 98.00 lakh passengers every single day," Savadi outlined in the letter.
The Minister said due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the lockdown that ensued have brought regular bus operations and functioning to a grinding halt.
"This has caused a devastating impact on the operations of all the four STUs due to the combination of lack of revenue and continuing fixed costs such as salaries and pensions to staff, payables against existing loans etc. It has been estimated that the lockdown has caused a financial loss of INR 1,600/- crore to these four STUs," he added.
Savadi said even after post-COVID lockdown, operations and revenues won't reach its previous demand& supply patterns in the next six to eight months due to reduced economic activity and users' perceived risk of contacting COVID in public transport.
In addition to that, "occupancy should be allowed up to seating capacity (without standees). This is essential to meet minimal demand," he said in the letter.
"The crew should wear facemask and hand gloves. The crew with health issues should not be deployed. The face masks should be made mandatory for all the passengers. Only asymptomatic persons should be allowed to travel in public transport. The Government of India may consider staggering working hours for various sectors to reduce peak hour traffic demand," the minister listed out these recommendations in the letter.
Savadi said that with social distancing norm of reduced seating capacity in public transport, it will not be possible to provide transport facility to all the daily passengers. This will create demand for more buses, which cannot be met.
"Restrictions on public transport will lead to passenger commute by overcrowding in smaller vehicles like cars, maxi cabs, goods tempos etc. which will adversely affect preventive measures," he added.
Therefore, Savadi requested Union Minister to look into the above matter and issue fresh guidelines to all the states / UT's.
Chiku, married to Linson Thomas, also working as a male nurse in the same hospital, failed to turn up for work at around 11 pm local time. Mr Thomas, who was on duty at the hospital, went to their apartment and found her dead with grievous injuries. T.I. Varghese, a close relative of the family, told this newspaper that the woman was suspected to be hacked with a sharp edged weapon.
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it is clear that the baby was targeted, otherwise there was no need to stab a woman with so many stabs if the reason was only ROBBERY. i trust our dear HM that he will find out the monster, this cannot be an act of a human being. THE EYES OF GOD THE ALMIGHTY OVERLOOKS EACH AND EVERY CREATION OF HIS AND THE CULPRIT WILL NOT ESCAPE THE WRATH OF GOD.
As a mother of 9 year old baby which my GOD blessed me after much trials for 6 years, i only ask \why\""
#5
Either YOU are ignorant of GOD or U are a fool to believe such a way.
God created all that exists in this EARTH and he has proportioned everything. Humans are one of the intelligent creation of ALLAH and as we advance technologically.. Human moral are decreasing and they rely on the advancement of technology. Mobile are good but when people use for BAD it is affecting the society. Everywhere U see evil, we need to stop it rather than ignoring.
When EVIL increases WE should voice out ... which we dont see now a days... it is our job too to voice out the EVIL done in our society.
God is most merciful, the culprit may escape cos of a merciful now , but his life will not get contentment in this world unless he asks forgiveness with the victim & with the creator who gave the LIFE to all.. There is a day when everything thing will be judged in front of THE CREATOR.
He gave us LIFE and he is the one who takes LIFE. Had U ever look what GOD says in his message .. if not please lOOK QURAN and find out what he says in QURAN on the PURPOSE of LIFE, Good and EVIL and HEAVEN and HELL>
First know WHO is ALLAH and then learn more about his messenger like Prophet Muhammd pbuh, jesus, moses, ibrahim, noah and many other... Who conveyed What is LIFE and what is our duties.
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