Controversy over price of bus used for ‘Nava Kerala Sadasu’

Thiruvananthapuram (ANI): A political controversy has erupted in Kerala over a bus that is being built to carry the visit of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other state ministers during the “Nav Kerala Sadasu”, which will start in Kasargod district of the state. . Saturday. “Nava Kerala Sadasu” is an outreach program of the government, where the Chief Minister and Ministers will travel to all the assembly constituencies of the state. The criticism from opposition parties is regarding the price of the bus. The opposition alleges that Rs 1.05 crore has been spent on converting the Benz bus into a caravan. Opposition leader VD Satheesan has criticized the “wasteful expenditure” on “Nava Kerala Sadasu” and buying a luxury bus at a time when the state is in financial crisis. BJP leaders also criticized the government for this. However, Transport Minister Antony Raju has defended the move, saying the allegation that the bus is luxurious is baseless. “If 21 ministers, including the chief minister, travel in their own vehicles and escort, there will be around 70-75 vehicles,” the minister said. Anton Raju said, “You know that KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) itself has Benz buses. KSRTC has 8 Volvo buses, numbering 1.38 lakh. There is no need to drive so many cars; They can all go on the same bus.” , Defending the move, Finance Minister KN Balagopal said, “We are now going to constituencies to meet people and the entire cabinet is going in a bus. A transport bus procured for the service of KSRTC will be used after this journey.” A transport bus.” (ANI)