Latest news with #RamalingaReddy
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
KSRTC recruits 45 constables; disburses Rs 3.60 crore
BENGALURU: Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Friday handed over appointment letters to 45 Karnataka State Transport (KST) constables recruited on compassionate grounds. The minister also disbursed Rs 3.60 crore to families of deceased staff at an event held at KSRTC's Central Office here. Reddy said 271 posts were filled up in KSRTC this year with hiring on compassionate grounds, and over 1,000 across all the four transport corporations. A Rs 1 crore cheque was given under 'Sarige Suraksha' accident insurance, with Rs 27 crore paid so far. Another Rs 2.60 crore was disbursed under the Employee Family Welfare Relief Scheme. Five new Airavat Club Class 2.0 buses were also launched on routes, including Bengaluru-Tirupati, Mangaluru-Bengaluru and Mysuru-Mantralaya, stated a press release.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
KSRTC issues 45 appointment orders, awards compensation under ‘Saarige Suraksha'
Bengaluru: In a significant initiative the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation(KSRTC) issued appointment orders under compassionate grounds, distributed substantial compensation to families of deceased employees, and launched five new Volvo Airavat Club Class 2.0 buses. The event was attended by the Transport and Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy and KSRTC Vice Chairman Mohammed Rizwan Nawab. KSRTC, which had suspended recruitment under compassionate grounds for nearly a decade, has now resumed the process. Within the past year, the corporation has filled 271 posts, including 152 KST Constables, 60 Office Helpers (Cleaning), 37 Technical Assistants, and 22 Driver-cum-Conductors. On Friday, appointment orders were distributed to 45 new KST Constables. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Ramalinga Reddy emphasized the vital contribution of the workforce, stating that the corporation is thriving due to the dedicated efforts of its employees. He reiterated KSRTC's responsibility to support the families of deceased staff and mentioned that across the four transport corporations, a total of 1,000 compassionate appointments have been made so far. A cheque of ₹1 crore was handed over to the family of an employee who died in an accident, under the 'Saarige Suraksha' Accident Insurance Scheme. This initiative provides ₹1 crore compensation to the families of employees who die in accidents, irrespective of whether the incident occurred on duty or off-duty. So far, ₹27 crore has been disbursed under this scheme to the dependents of 27 employees. In light of rising employee deaths due to health conditions like heart attacks, cancer, and strokes, KSRTC had earlier increased the compensation under the Employee Family Welfare Relief Scheme from ₹3 lakh to ₹10 lakh effective November 1, 2023. Today, ₹2.60 crore in compensation was distributed to the families of 26 such employees. In total, the scheme has covered 151 cases, with ₹15.10 crore disbursed till date. Minister Ramalinga Reddy expressed condolences to the families of employees who passed away due to accidents or health reasons. He stressed the irreplaceable value of human life and underlined that while the deceased cannot be brought back, the corporation has a duty to ensure their families' financial security. He urged the beneficiaries to use the compensation for essential needs such as education, housing, and family well-being, cautioning them not to fall prey to financial traps or individuals promising high returns. The event also marked the formal introduction of five new Volvo Airavat Club Class 2.0 buses into the KSRTC fleet. These buses will operate on the Bengaluru–Tirupati (1 bus), Mangaluru–Bengaluru (2 buses), and Mysuru–Mantralaya (2 buses) routes. The new Airavat Club Class 2.0 buses offer a range of enhanced features including 15-meter length, 51 premium 2x2 seating, advanced fuel efficiency, increased luggage space, upgraded lighting and safety systems, and modern comfort amenities such as USB and C-type charging ports and a fire alarm protection system with automated water spray nozzles. Managing Director of KSRTC, Akram Pasha, addressed the gathering and reminded the beneficiaries to follow the minister's advice regarding the proper and responsible use of the compensation funds. He assured that KSRTC stands firmly by the families of its employees in both support and solidarity.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
23% rise in women's employment in Bengaluru after Shakti Scheme: Study
A 23% jump in women's employment in Bengaluru and a 21% increase in Hubballi-Dharwad have been recorded following the implementation of Karnataka's Shakti Scheme, which offers fare-free bus travel to women, according to a new study. The report highlights Karnataka as the best-performing State among five-studied States, in terms of linking free public transport to employment gains for women. The findings come from a new report titled 'Beyond Free Rides: A Multi-State Assessment of Women's Bus Fare Subsidy Schemes in Urban India', commissioned by the Sustainable Mobility Network and conducted by Nikore Associates. The report is based on over 2,500 surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews conducted across 10 cities in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, according to the study. In Karnataka, nearly 27% of women in both Bengaluru and Hubballi-Dharwad reported switching to buses because of the scheme, while many said they now travel more frequently and farther for work, education, and other essential needs, the study claims. Mitali Nikore, Founder and chief economist of Nikore Associates, said, 'The Shakti Scheme is enabling more frequent travel, longer trips, and better access to essential services, especially for women who were previously limited by cost. Karnataka's experience shows what's possible when intention meets inclusive access.' 'Met primary objective' Speaking about the findings, Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy said, 'The primary objective of the Shakti Scheme is to empower women, and the increase in women's employment highlighted in the study is an encouraging sign.' 'I have observed that since the scheme was introduced, a large number of women particularly from lower-middle and middle-income families have been using the free bus service to commute for work. Many have found jobs in sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, and domestic services, among others,' Mr. Reddy told The Hindu. Persistent challenges However, the report flags persistent challenges, particularly around first-and-last-mile connectivity. Many women living in peripheral urban areas continue to depend on autorickshaws or other paid options to reach bus stop, costs that eat into their savings and limit the impact of the fare-free scheme. Safety remains another key barrier. Despite rising bus usage, less than half of women in Bengaluru and Hubballi-Dharwad reported feeling safe while commuting. Issues cited include harassment, overcrowding, poor lighting, and lack of staffing at bus stops. To improve the effectiveness of the Shakti Scheme and others like it, the report recommends: fleet expansion to meet rising demand, gender-sensitive staffing and training of transport workers, installation of safety infrastructure like CCTV cameras, lighting, and responsive helplines, and better integration with first-mile and last-mile options. From June 11, 2023, to July 24, 2025, the Shakti Scheme enabled over 508 crore trips for women passengers to travel free of cost across the four State transport undertakings—Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation, North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation. The ticket value of women passengers travelled is ₹12,881 crore.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
KSRTC Issues Appointment Orders, Disburses Compensation, and Launches New Buses
Bengaluru: In a significant initiative the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation(KSRTC) issued appointment orders under compassionate grounds, distributed substantial compensation to families of deceased employees, and launched five new Volvo Airavat Club Class 2.0 buses. The event was attended by the Transport and Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy and KSRTC Vice Chairman Mohammed Rizwan Nawab. KSRTC, which had suspended recruitment under compassionate grounds for nearly a decade, has now resumed the process. Within the past year, the corporation has filled 271 posts, including 152 KST Constables, 60 Office Helpers (Cleaning), 37 Technical Assistants, and 22 Driver-cum-Conductors. Today, appointment orders were distributed to 45 new KST Constables. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Ramalinga Reddy emphasized the vital contribution of the workforce, stating that the corporation is thriving due to the dedicated efforts of its employees. He reiterated KSRTC's responsibility to support the families of deceased staff and mentioned that across the four transport corporations, a total of 1,000 compassionate appointments have been made so far. A cheque of ₹1 crore was handed over to the family of an employee who died in an accident, under the "Saarige Suraksha" Accident Insurance Scheme. This initiative provides ₹1 crore compensation to the families of employees who die in accidents, irrespective of whether the incident occurred on duty or off-duty. So far, ₹27 crore has been disbursed under this scheme to the dependents of 27 employees. In light of rising employee deaths due to health conditions like heart attacks, cancer, and strokes, KSRTC had earlier increased the compensation under the Employee Family Welfare Relief Scheme from ₹3 lakh to ₹10 lakh effective November 1, 2023. Today, ₹2.60 crore in compensation was distributed to the families of 26 such employees. In total, the scheme has covered 151 cases, with ₹15.10 crore disbursed till date. Minister Ramalinga Reddy expressed condolences to the families of employees who passed away due to accidents or health reasons. He stressed the irreplaceable value of human life and underlined that while the deceased cannot be brought back, the corporation has a duty to ensure their families' financial security. He urged the beneficiaries to use the compensation for essential needs such as education, housing, and family well-being, cautioning them not to fall prey to financial traps or individuals promising high returns. The event also marked the formal introduction of five new Volvo Airavat Club Class 2.0 buses into the KSRTC fleet. These buses will operate on the Bengaluru–Tirupati (1 bus), Mangaluru–Bengaluru (2 buses), and Mysuru–Mantralaya (2 buses) routes. The new Airavat Club Class 2.0 buses offer a range of enhanced features including 15-meter length, 51 premium 2x2 seating, advanced fuel efficiency, increased luggage space, upgraded lighting and safety systems, and modern comfort amenities such as USB and C-type charging ports and a fire alarm protection system with automated water spray nozzles. Managing Director of KSRTC, Akram Pasha, addressed the gathering and reminded the beneficiaries to follow the minister's advice regarding the proper and responsible use of the compensation funds. He assured that KSRTC stands firmly by the families of its employees in both support and solidarity.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Five new Volvo Airavat Club Class 2.0 buses flagged off
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Friday launched five new Volvo Airavat Club Class 2.0 luxury buses, further expanding its premium fleet on key intercity routes. Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy flagged off the buses at the KSRTC Central Office in Bengaluru. According to KSRTC, these new-generation buses, a continuation of the 20 buses flagged off by the Chief Minister in December 2024, will operate on the Bengaluru-Tirupati (one bus), Mangaluru-Bengaluru (two buses), and Mysuru-Mantralaya (two buses) routes. 'Equipped with Scandinavian-style exteriors and plush new interiors, the 15-metre-long buses offer 51 comfortable seats, improved headroom, 20% more luggage space, and advanced safety features such as fire alarm systems with water sprinklers and rear fog lights. Additional highlights include USB and C-type charging ports, improved air-conditioning, better fuel efficiency, and enhanced driver visibility,' a release said. Mr. Reddy also launched welfare initiatives for the employees' families. Appointment orders were issued to 45 candidates for KST constable posts under compassionate grounds, a process that had been stalled for nearly a decade. Since its resumption last year, 271 such appointments have been made across KSRTC, Mr. Reddy stated. A compensation of ₹1 crore was handed over to the family of an employee who died in an accident. An additional ₹2.6 crore was distributed to families of 26 employees who passed away due to illness, under the Employee Family Welfare Relief Scheme. The Minister advised families to use the compensation wisely, particularly for children's education and essential needs.
