'New buses, appointment of drivers to improve transportation in TN'

CHENNAI: Transport Minister SS Sivasankar on Saturday blamed the previous AIADMK government for the shortage of bus services in the city.

"In the last five years, not many new buses were bought. Number of new buses bought in the previous DMK government 2006-11 was much more than the last 10 years of the AIADMK rule. Now we have taken steps to procure new buses through Germany's KfW funding agency and state government. Those buses would be operated in the required routes, " the minister told reporters after a seminar on the development of public transportation organised by the CITU affiliated Tamil Nadu Government Transport Employees Union here.

He praised the documentary "Engine of Tamil Nadu'' released at the seminar by the Comrade Talkies for highlighting the role of public transportation.

To a query on the introduction of electric bus services, he said that the transport corporations has already invited tenders for the procurement of the electric buses. "We are planning to procure 100 e-buses for Chennai. After trial operation of the electric buses in the city, we will go ahead with the procurement of 400 buses, " he said.

Earlier, the minister said that free travel scheme for women saved the transport corporations. "Many employees thought that it was due to the free travel announcement that the wage agreement talks were delayed. On the contrary, it saved the transport corporations, " he said.

He assured the corporation employees that the government would not privatise the bus services and instead it would be made a model for public transportation.

"We are going to buy new buses. The new drivers and conductors would be recruited soon. Chief Minister would soon make an announcement in this regard, " he said.