TNN

Bangalore, Jun 23: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Monday received a specially designed air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz bus. It's a first for a state transportation unit in the country.

Transport minister R Ashoka launched the bus, which will ply between Bangalore and Mysore for three months. The free trial operation is likely to be extended on an inter-state schedule from Bangalore to Chennai and Mumbai. Drivers for the bus were specially trained at a centre in Pune.

Ashoka said depending on the performance, the corporation will decide how many buses can be bought. Each bus costs Rs 65 lakh. The corporation also plans to give light snacks on board the hi-tech bus.

The Mercedes-Benz bus will have full air suspension, ergonomically designed executive passenger seats, twin-LCD screens, four emergency exits and other international standard features.

Ashoka said rural areas will not be neglected and bus replacement there will continue. Refuting a charge that rural areas were not being given importance, he said out of the corporation's 20,000 buses, only 5,000 ply in the urban sector.

A report on the efficiency of old buses and discrepancies at driving schools has been submitted and action will be taken soon.

The state transport sector has received a grant of Rs 16 crore from the Centre. This apart, bus depots will be upgraded at a cost of Rs 100 crore, said Ashoka. The government is also planing to buy 2,250 buses for the KSRTC and 1,000 for the BMTC.