Thiruvananthapuram: The government’s claim that Chief Minister and his cabinet are travelling on a luxury bus for ‘Nava Kerala Sadas’ to reduce the overall cost has been exposed. Accompanying the luxury bus is an empty Volvo bus of the KSRTC and all the cars of the ministers who are travelling with the CM. The empty Volvo bus will accompany the convoy everywhere.
The Volvo bus belongs to the Thiruvananthapuram Depot of KSRTC and is running without any passengers. The police say that the bus has been added to the convoy as per security protocol. The officials said that it is used as a spare vehicle in case the luxury bus carrying the CM and his cabinet breaks down.
The luxury bus and the spare Volvo bus each have four KSRTC employees.
Though the CM and his cabinet ministers are travelling on a luxury bus, there is no rest for the ministers’ cars. These cars are used to carry the staff members and the ministers’ luggage. The cars reach every spot before the CM and his cabinet reaches the area on the luxury bus.
However, Transport Minister, Antony Raju, said that these cars do not go to every venue where the CM is going. He said that usually two cars accompany a minister’s vehicle. As all the ministers are travelling with the CM on the luxury bus itself, the cost is brought down.
The Nava Kerala Sadas has come under severe criticisms, especially when the state is facing dire financial crisis. The luxury bus, which is carrying the CM and his cabinet, itself cost more than Rs.1 crore. Added to this is the expense of the empty KSRTC Volvo bus and the ministers’ cars. The KSRTC is also facing a financial crisis and is unable to pay the salaries of its employees on time. For the common people such extravaganza is like rubbing salt into the wound.
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