Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday, August 18, launched 637 high-end city buses in front of Vidhana Soudha. Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy, Minister for Health K R Ramesh Kumar and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) chairman Rajender Kumar Kataria were present on the occasion.

The Union Ministry of Urban Development, under AMRUT Scheme had sanctioned 487 urban buses for 13 small and medium towns viz., Mysuru, Tumkuru, Hassan, Mandya, Ramanagara, Mangaluru, Udupi, KGF, Kolar, Davangere, Bhadravathi, Shivamogga and Chitradurga which come under the purview of KSRTC.

Out of 487 urban buses, 241 (63 Midi and 178 Standard urban buses) are kept ready for operation and the balance will be procured shortly. End rate of each of the midi bus is Rs. 27.81 lakh and of Standard bus is Rs 38.76 lakh.

These buses are enabled with ITS (Intelligent Transport System) facilities; the salient features are as below:

a) These buses are fitted with CC cameras for the safety of travelling passengers.

b) These buses are also fitted with Rear view camera for driving safety.

c) These buses are provided with panic buttons, to be used by the driver during emergency to pass on any urgent information to control room.

d) These buses are having Voice announcement system with LED display so that passengers will be aware of forthcoming stops.

e) Passenger request stop buzzer is provided on stanchion poles.

f) Vehicle tracking system

• The floor height of these buses is convenient and easy for boarding and alighting of passengers.

• Electro pneumatic doors are provided in these buses for safety of passengers; when the doors are open the vehicle will not move and only when the doors are closed the vehicle will move.

• Ramps are provided for easy boarding and alighting of physical handicapped/disabled persons in Midi buses and safety belt is provided for physically challenged persons.

• Sufficient gang way is provided for standing passengers.