Mamata flags off 165 new buses, 117 fire tenders and pumps

Kolkata: In a bid to ensure better connectivity in different parts of the state, the Mamata Banerjee government will invest another Rs 70 crore to introduce around 270 new buses.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday flagged off 165 buses which will be operating on different routes and 117 fire tenders and pumps in front of the state Secretariat Nabanna.

Sovan Chatterjee, minister of the state Fire and Emergency Services department, Suvendu Adhikari, the state Transport minister, Chief Secretary Malay De, Surajit Kar Purkayastha, Director General of Police and Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Additional Chief Secretary of the state Transport department, were also present at the function. In the programme, the Chief Minister said: "Today 165 buses have been introduced and in the second phase another 260 to 270 more buses will be introduced. At present Rs 40 crore has been given and the state government will give another Rs 70 crore."

The 165 buses that have been introduced on Tuesday is the Christmas gift of the state government to the people of Bengal.

She added that historic changes have been witnessed in the transport sector of the state with several initiatives being taken to ensure better services to the people. "As many as 18,000 vehicles have been introduced in the state under the Gatidhara project. At the same time, 400 jetties have been renovated and 180 bus terminuses were being set up across the state," she said after taking a dig at the Central minister without naming anyone. She said: "Some come just to flag off a car or a bus, but here we inaugurate many projects from one programme."

Wishing a merry Christmas to the people of the state, the Chief Minister added that her government's target has been to extend services to the doorsteps of the common people.

While speaking about the Safe Drive Save Life campaign,

she said it is going on in full swing. Kolkata Police have introduced speed limits on different roads which the state police have to implement too.

She further stated that Safe Drive Save Life campaign has to be continued properly as most accidents take place in winter.

Banerjee, who also flagged off fire tenders in the same programme, said: "We don't want people to face any problem. But it is important for us to stay prepared with such initiatives of improving infrastructure to fight incidents of fire or any other emergency situation whenever there is any need."