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.
Comments
If hindus start eating beef based on this, then price will increase 2-3 times more than today's rate....very bad....
Chaddis eating beef sukka as well.
Dear YOGESH...
Please carefully read the below verse from BG and ponder on it. Also REFLECT on y BG mentioned this here.
Bhagavad Gita 7:20
Those whose INTELLIGENCE has been stolen by MATERIAL DESIRES surrender onto Demigods (Besides TRUE GOD) and follow the particular rules and regulations of WORSHIP according to their own natures...
I think U should not worship the idols and statues instead worship the TRUE GOD who is formless (NA TASYA PRATIMA ASTI). This is the TRUTH and U should follow the BG on this too...
Those who don't eat non veg. Should replace their pointed teeth to flat teeth.
Less intelligent people always want to imitate God and there activities without knowing the proper fact and reason behind the activities.
Like lord Shiva once consumed POISON. Can any ordinary human do this ,No. So we should not try to imitate God. But We should always follow the instructions given by them. God has given enough instructions through his word in BHAGAVAD Gita and other scripture. Where he instructed to offer him only four type of eatable things i.e. Leaf, Flower, Fruit and water and consume it. This is why, we should always try to follow God's instructions carefully rather than imitating his activity.
So what......and who gave you the list of God's diet......why don't you request your Hindu people to close now the restaurants which serves non veg......they will throw you in garbage....better be silent....
instead of looking at the fact and trying to know the TRUTH ,,, some cheddis are already blaming him blindly... when in fact intelligent will look for the truth.
Sita kidnapped When laxman was busy in hunting deer for their lunch. This story clearly tells about their love for meat.
Very well said. If entire hindus studies their scripture they will become non-vegetarian and stops idol worship without any delay.
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