Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Dec 12: The demand to provide free bus passes to construction labourers who travel between villages and cities for work is a old one. Now the state labour department has decided to issue the bus passes free and the cost would be borne by the department itself. At present, this facility is in force under the limits of BMTC in the capital city only.

The bus passes will be issued through Karnataka building and other construction workers’ welfare board. Labour minister Shivaram Hebbar has taken lots of efforts in providing free bus passes to labourers of Karnataka. He held continuous meetings with BMTC, KSRTC, NWKRTC and NEKRTC boards.

This rule will be implemented in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts als. During the beginning of the second wave of corona, the labour department had collected information about the labourers and sent the same to KSRTC. However, KSRTC officials say that the approval is not yet received. So far 58,500 construction workers have registered their names in Udupi district.

The construction workers who have registered themselves in the welfare board should submit their id card, two stamp size photographs and a copy of the Aadhar card to the local bus pass distribution centres. Initially a three month validity pass will be given. It needs to be renewed after the period lapses.