PM-eBus Sewa: Karnataka minister urges Centre to give subsidies to states

Time of India

4 hours ago

The central govt should provide direct subsidies to state govts to procure
electric buses
under the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme, instead of allocating them to private operators under the PPP model, said
Karnataka transport minister
Ramalinga Reddy. He was speaking after inaugurating the new
automated driving test track
at Kamblapadavu in Pajir village, Ullal taluk, on Sunday.
The procurement and operation of electric buses was easy during the UPA regime. While the central govt was providing 50 per cent of the fund, the state and its transport corporations had to invest 25 per cent each to operate buses. Now, under the NDA regime, buses are not given directly to states but instead procured through tenders, and the subsidy goes to the participating bidders. They will own the buses, hire drivers, and also maintain the vehicles while the state corporations have to appoint conductors and pay the operators on a kilometre basis. The minister suggested that the central govt should directly pay the subsidy to the state transport corporations across the nation.
He added that a discussion in this regard was held with Union minister HK Kumaraswamy too. On 100 electric buses sanctioned to Mangaluru under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme, the minister said the depot and terminal will be developed soon after land was identified.
On the new automated driving test track, Reddy said Karnataka will have the highest number of automated driving test stations in the country. "In fact, chief minister Siddaramaiah was scheduled to inaugurate the facility, which was developed at a cost of Rs 7.5 crore. However, due to technical reasons, the programme was postponed. Govt has been providing automated driving test tracks at 42 centres covering all districts in the state," he said. Karnataka assembly speaker UT Khader presided while Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, among others, were guests.
Automated test to begin in 10 days
RTO Sridhar K Mallad said the new automated driving test station set up as per the guidelines of the central govt will replace the manual inspections. "Further, it will increase efficiency while preventing corruption and interference of middlemen. There are separate automated driving test tracks for two-wheelers, light motor vehicles, and heavy vehicles," he said.
"The manual facility at Vamanjoor will be shifted to the new facility at Kamblapadavu within a few days. The new automated driving test track will be made operational within 10 days after the services are linked to the NIC. Once the linking process is completed, applicants can book slots for tests online," he said.