The Karnataka government today demanded release of funds for improving transportation facilities, including for setting up infrastructure for women safety, but the central government asked the state to first spend the money sanctioned so far.
State Transport Minister Ramlinga Reddy today separately met Union ministers Venkaiah Naidu, Nitin Gadkari, Maneka Gandhi and Anant G Geete and sought more funds under central schemes like Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)and Nirbhaya Fund.
Senior BJP leader and Union Fertiliser Minister Ananth Kumar and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) Managing Director Ekroop Kaur were also present in these meetings.
"We met four ministers and demanded release of funds under AMRUT scheme for buying buses. We have asked money under Nirbaya Fund to put in place infrastructure for women safety. We have also asked for induction of electronic buses and exemption of service tax on revenue realised from AC buses," Reddy told reporters after the meetings.
On pending funds under JNNURM scheme, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu told reporters, "We reviewed the situation and told them that the money is lying with the state government unspent. We told them to submit the utilisation certificates (UCs) and we will consider for release of rest of the funds."
The state has been told that since the city-modernisation scheme JNNURM will come to end in March 2017, the state government should spend funds before the period, he said.
As per the official data, the Centre has sanctioned purchase of 1,701 buses for 30 cities in the state. So far, the state government has been able to purchase only 582 buses.
Out of a total release of Rs 239 crore, UCs have been submitted for Rs 65.79 crore only. Thus, a huge amount has been lying unspent with for more than two years.
Naidu said the central government has allocated huge funds to the state under AMRUT scheme. The state will be allowed to use funds for other purpose only after completing work in three priority areas.
"We said priority under the scheme should be given for drinking water, sanitation and solid waste management. If you have completed work in all three areas, we can permit funds for transportation and others," he said.
On other demands, Union Minister Ananth Kumar, who is a BJP MP from South Bengaluru, said Heavy Industry Minister Anant G Geete has assured that the proposal of induction of 150 buses would be cleared in the next three months as the scheme will have to be modified for promoting e-mobility.
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