Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is all set to procure 700 new electric buses. In phase 1, these buses will be used in Bengaluru city and later they will be expanded to all the major cities.

The government is pinning hopes on the electric buses to overcome the challenge of ticket fare revision due to the diesel price hike.

According to newly appointed transport minister B. Sreeramulu, all the four corporations of the KSRTC incurred Rs.1,280 crores loss till now. Frequent revision of diesel rate is adding burden. As a solution now the State government decided to procure more electric buses with centre’s assistance.

“We are expecting centre’s support for this,” he said.

He also ruled out the possibility of increasing the ticket fare. “We are under loss. But we are aware that the people are also not in a position to bear more burden,” he said.

He also welcomed the new scrap policy unveiled by the Central government. “This policy will help all the stakeholders of the transport industry,” he said.