Jaya flags off 507 new buses
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Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Tuesday flagged off 507 new buses and 266 renovated ones, adding 773 buses to the State Transport Undertakings (STU) as part of augmentation of 3,000 new buses announced in the Budget session.
The CM also inaugurated new buildings for the state transport authority, constructed at an estimate of `5.18 crore across the state. A comprehensive health check-up scheme for drivers of STUs above 45 years was also launched.
“Of the new buses, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation got 70 while SETC got 105. TNSTC Coimbatore got 109 buses, TNSTC Salem 78 buses and Villupuram Corporation 119.
The remaining buses were augmented to other transport corporations in the state,” a senior official in the transport department told this newspaper. Besides this, 304 buses would be operated on newly-identified routes.
The new buses purchased for the state express transport corporation have emergency exits for the safety of the passengers.
The purchase of new buses followed the chief minister’s announcement that the government would buy 3,000 new buses at the cost of Rs 539.83 crore to replace those which had served for six years or driven for more than 7 lakh km.
Ms Jayalalithaa also gave appointment orders for 9,517 casual labourers and presented retirement benefits of Rs 47.71 crore to 2,316 retired employees. Transport minister Senthil Balaji and secretary Mr B.K Prasad were among those present.
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