6 hours ago
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The recently appointed Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s determination to supply escaped autobus question to students crossed the State has been welcomed arsenic a measurement that could boost entree to education, but transport officials person expressed concerns astir its fiscal interaction connected the State-run roadworthy transport corporations (RTCs), which are already grappling with delayed reimbursements nether the Shakti Scheme.
Officials from the 4 RTCs told The Hindu that portion the determination would payment lakhs of students, peculiarly those from agrarian and economically weaker backgrounds, its occurrence would beryllium connected timely reimbursement by the government.
At present, astir 10 lakh students crossed Karnataka avail concessional autobus passes issued by the RTCs each year. Out of this, 7 lakh students from wide class avail the pass, portion 3 lakh students from SC/ST assemblage avail the pupil passes which is reimbursed done the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) programme of the Social Welfare Department. According to the Transport Department officials, these passes make astir ₹70 crore successful yearly gross for the corporations.
“Women students are already travelling escaped nether the Shakti Scheme. Male students presently usage concessional passes issued by the RTCs. If the authorities reimburses the gross nonaccomplishment arising from the caller scheme, akin to the Shakti model, determination should not beryllium immoderate large contented for the corporations,” a elder RTC authoritative said.
Reimbursements for Shakti strategy pending
However, the transport corp sources pointed retired that the RTCs are inactive awaiting important dues from the authorities nether the Shakti Scheme, which provides escaped autobus question to women.
According to authoritative information accessed by The Hindu, the 4 RTCs spent ₹17,647.50 crore connected operating services nether the strategy betwixt June 2023 and February 2026. During the aforesaid period, the authorities released ₹13,073.75 crore towards reimbursements, leaving pending dues of ₹4,573.75 crore.
A root successful 1 of the corporations said that the hold successful reimbursements has already enactment unit connected the finances of the RTCs. “Operational expenses specified arsenic worker salaries, substance costs, fleet attraction and procurement of spare parts proceed to rise. While the RTCs are committed to implementing payment schemes, delayed payments impact currency travel and spot further accent connected day-to-day operations. If reimbursements are released connected time, the escaped pupil question strategy tin beryllium implemented smoothly without creating a fiscal load connected the corporations,” the root said.
Transport experts echoed akin concerns, saying that payment initiatives specified arsenic Shakti and escaped pupil question person important societal benefits but should not travel astatine the disbursal of the fiscal sustainability of nationalist transport operators.
“Public transport schemes should payment some passengers and the corporations that present the service. Free question for students is simply a invited measurement that tin amended acquisition outcomes and mobility. However, the authorities indispensable guarantee punctual reimbursement truthful that RTCs tin proceed expanding services, modernising fleets and improving connectivity successful agrarian areas,” Transport adept M.N. Srihari said, adding that a financially steadfast the RTC web remains indispensable for ensuring affordable and reliable proscription crossed Karnataka.
