RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Government today said it plans to ply 551 more buses in 70 cities across the state, including state capital Raipur.
The scheme would be implemented in two phases under which 100 buses would be run in the state capital during the first round, while other cities would be covered under the service, with 451 buses during the next phase, according to an official release issued here today.
"Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has asked officials to kick start operations of these buses after deciding its routes as early as possible during a meeting of the Urban Administration and Development Department here today in the Mantralaya," the release said.
Officials present at the meeting informed the Chief Minister that as many as 65 big and 35 small buses would ply here through the Raipur Municipal Corporation as part of the the first phase for which Rs 14.85 crore has been sanctioned, the release said.
Subsequently, around 21 core cities and 49 link towns would be connected under the project, for which a sum of Rs 169.19 crore would be spent, the release said.
For the operation of buses, urban transport societies have been registered in cities which have already floated tenders to procure buses, the release said.
Buses are likely to be provided to these societies by October 15, officials told the Chief Minister, the release said.
Meanwhile, the CM has directed intensification of ongoing works to meet targets under urban poverty alleviation schemes and urban development projects, while reviewing their status during the meeting.